adj
Common
reflected
rih-FLEHK-tihd
Reflected (adj) means Bounced back off a surface, as light or sound. Example: “The reflected glare from the lake made it hard to see the road.”
adj
1
Bounced back off a surface, as light or sound.
"The reflected glare from the lake made it hard to see the road."
"We heard the reflected sound of our shouts bounce back from the cliff."
"The reflected sunlight lit up the whole cave."
"reflected light or reflected heat"
2
Gained indirectly through association with someone else's success or fame.
"She enjoyed a little reflected fame when her brother appeared on television."
"The assistant took pleasure in the reflected prestige of working for a famous chef."
"He basked in the reflected glory of his daughter's award."
How to use reflected
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBounced back (light/sound), or (for glory/pride) gained secondhand through someone else.
Common pairings
reflected light
reflected glory
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like reflected.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ glare from the lake made it hard to see the road.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unreflected
Related words
Rhymes for reflected
erected
elected
expected
dejected
directed
affected
detected
selected
effected
infected
projected
deflected
See all rhymes for reflected →
Frequently asked questions
What does “reflected” mean?
The word “reflected” means bounced back off a surface, as light or sound. In plain terms, bounced back (light/sound), or (for glory/pride) gained secondhand through someone else.
How do you pronounce “reflected”?
“Reflected” is pronounced rih-FLEHK-tihd (/ɹɪˈflɛktɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “reflected” in a sentence?
Here is “reflected” used in a sentence: “The reflected sunlight lit up the whole cave.”
What part of speech is “reflected”?
“Reflected” is an adjective.
Is “reflected” a common word?
“Reflected” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “reflected” have?
“Reflected” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: bounced back off a surface, as light or sound.
What is the difference between 'reflected' and 'refracted'?
Reflected light or sound bounces back off a surface, like an echo or a mirror image. Refracted light bends as it passes through a surface such as water or glass, so reflection sends waves back while refraction lets them through at an angle.
What is the difference between 'reflected' and 'reflective'?
Reflected describes light, sound, or credit that has been bounced back or gained indirectly. Reflective describes a surface able to reflect, such as a reflective vest, or a person given to deep thought.
What is reflected light?
Reflected light is light that has bounced back off a surface rather than passing through it or being absorbed. Most of what we see is reflected light, since objects appear visible when they bounce light back to our eyes.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include reflected:
