reflect

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈriflɛkt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form reflect

Third-person singular reflects

Past tense reflected

Past participle reflected

Present participle reflecting

A pool reflecting the sky, the trees, and the tall shape

1. (transitive) If $x$ reflects $y$, $x$ shows or matches $y$, or $x$ is affected by $y$.

   These words didn't accurately reflect his thoughts.

   Changing fashion reflected the changing population.

   Greensburg's population had fallen steadily for decades, reflecting a trend in many small farming towns in Kansas.

   This concept is simplistic and clearly does not reflect reality.

   Attitudes towards religion also reflect historical factors.

   Politicians can maintain their popularity only if their decisions reflect public preferences.

   His letters began to reflect his growing anger.

   The teachers' beliefs are reflected in the use of technology in the classroom.

   Many of the concerns of family members reflect the need for information about the disease.

   Waiting list numbers don't reflect the actual need.

   Our values are reflected in and shaped by advertising.

2. (transitive) If $x$ reflects $y$, the light from $y$ can be seen in $x$.

   The mirrors on the stairway reflected ladies in white, blue, and pink dresses.

3. (intransitive) If light or sound reflects off something, it hits it and goes in a different direction.

   Sunlight was reflecting off the glass.

4. (intransitive) If you reflect about something, you think about it carefully.

   In jail he's had time to reflect upon what he did and how many lives he touched through his actions.

Synonyms

• think
• show
• consider
• match
• suggest
• wonder
• indicate

Related words

• unreflecting
• reflective
• reflectively
• reflectiveness
• reflection
• reflectance