hindsight
HYN-syt
Hindsight (noun) means the understanding you gain about a past event only after it has happened. Example: “In hindsight, we should have left earlier to beat the traffic.”
noun
1
The understanding you gain about a past event only after it has happened.
"In hindsight, we should have left earlier to beat the traffic."
"Hindsight makes it easy to see where the plan went wrong."
How to use hindsight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLooking back on something and realising what you should have known or done at the time.
Memory tip
Almost always used in the phrase "in hindsight" or "with the benefit of hindsight."
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
in hindsight
with hindsight
20/20 hindsight
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Word forms
- Plural
- hindsights
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In _____, we should have left earlier to beat the traffic.
Etymology
From hind + sight, coined in the 19th century.
Class of 1800
hindsight joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “hindsight” mean?
The word “hindsight” means the understanding you gain about a past event only after it has happened. In plain terms, looking back on something and realising what you should have known or done at the time.
How do you pronounce “hindsight”?
“Hindsight” is pronounced HYN-syt (/ˈhaɪn(d)saɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “hindsight” in a sentence?
Here is “hindsight” used in a sentence: “In hindsight, we should have left earlier to beat the traffic.”
What part of speech is “hindsight”?
“Hindsight” is a noun.
Where does the word “hindsight” come from?
The word “hindsight” dates back to around 1800. From hind + sight, coined in the 19th century.
Is “hindsight” a common word?
“Hindsight” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
