reflect
rih-FLEHKT
Reflect (verb) means to bounce light, sound, or an image back off a surface. Example: “The lake reflected the mountains perfectly at dawn.”
verb
1
To bounce light, sound, or an image back off a surface.
"The lake reflected the mountains perfectly at dawn."
"The mirror reflects everything in the room."
"Sunlight reflected off the windows and dazzled the drivers below."
2
To think carefully or seriously about something.
"She took a moment to reflect on the past year."
"Take a quiet walk and reflect on what you really want."
"He needs time to reflect before making such a big decision."
3
To show or be evidence of a particular quality or condition.
"The company's profits reflect its recent success."
"Her messy desk reflects how busy she has been lately."
"The test results reflect hard work by the whole class."
How to use reflect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo bounce back (light, image), to think hard about something, or to show evidence of something.
Common pairings
reflect light
reflect on the past
reflect a trend
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- reflects
- Past tense
- reflected
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lake _____ the mountains perfectly at dawn.
Etymology
From Latin reflectere ("to bend back"), from re- ("back") plus flectere ("to bend").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for reflect
See all rhymes for reflect →Frequently asked questions
What does “reflect” mean?
The word “reflect” means to bounce light, sound, or an image back off a surface. In plain terms, to bounce back (light, image), to think hard about something, or to show evidence of something.
How do you pronounce “reflect”?
“Reflect” is pronounced rih-FLEHKT (/ɹɪˈflɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “reflect” in a sentence?
Here is “reflect” used in a sentence: “The lake reflected the mountains perfectly at dawn.”
What part of speech is “reflect”?
“Reflect” is a verb.
Where does the word “reflect” come from?
The word “reflect” comes from Latin. From Latin reflectere ("to bend back"), from re- ("back") plus flectere ("to bend").
Is “reflect” a common word?
“Reflect” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “reflect” have?
“Reflect” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bounce light, sound, or an image back off a surface.
What is the difference between reflect and refract?
To reflect is to bounce light, sound, or an image back off a surface, the way a mirror sends light back toward you. To refract is to bend light as it passes through a substance, the way a straw looks bent in a glass of water. Reflection bounces back; refraction bends through.
Is it "reflect on" or "reflect upon"?
Both are correct and mean the same thing: to think carefully about something. "Reflect on" is the more common choice in everyday writing and speech, while "reflect upon" sounds slightly more formal or literary. Choose whichever fits the tone of your sentence.
What is the difference between reflect and deflect?
To reflect is to bounce something, such as light or sound, back off a surface. To deflect is to turn something aside from its original path, so it continues in a new direction rather than returning. Figuratively, people reflect on questions but deflect them when they avoid answering.
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