reflect

verb

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re·flect | \ ri-ˈflekt

reflected; reflecting; reflects

Definition of reflect

transitive verb

1 : to prevent passage of and cause to change direction a mirror reflects light

2 : to give back or exhibit as an image, likeness, or outline : mirror the clouds were reflected in the water

3 : to bring or cast as a result his attitude reflects little credit on his judgment

4 : to make manifest or apparent : show the painting reflects his artistic vision the pulse reflects the condition of the heart

5 : realize, consider

6 : to bend or fold back

7 archaic : to turn into or away from a course : deflect

intransitive verb

1 : to throw back light or sound

2a : to think quietly and calmly

b : to express a thought or opinion resulting from reflection

3a : to tend to bring reproach or discredit an investigation that reflects on all the members of the department

b : to bring about a specified appearance or characterization an act which reflects well on her

c : to have a bearing or influence

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing reflect Learn More About reflect

Choose the Right Synonym for reflect

think, cogitate, reflect, reason, speculate, deliberate mean to use one's powers of conception, judgment, or inference. think is general and may apply to any mental activity, but used alone often suggests attainment of clear ideas or conclusions. teaches students how to think cogitate implies deep or intent thinking. cogitated on the mysteries of nature reflect suggests unhurried consideration of something recalled to the mind. reflecting on fifty years of married life reason stresses consecutive logical thinking. able to reason brilliantly in debate speculate implies reasoning about things theoretical or problematic. speculated on the fate of the lost explorers deliberate suggests slow or careful reasoning before forming an opinion or reaching a conclusion or decision. the jury deliberated for five hours

Examples of reflect in a Sentence

The old church is reflected in the glass exterior of the skyscraper. Her book clearly reflects her beliefs. Where you learned a language is reflected in your accent.

Recent Examples on the Web But the proportions of this basket do not reflect everyone’s spending. — Bill Conerly, Forbes, 14 May 2022 Johnson has complained that the basket of goods that determines the CPI-W index doesn’t reflect the spending patterns of seniors who buy less gasoline, electronics and other products that make up a big portion of younger workers’ spending. — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 13 May 2022 Those cost estimates do not reflect a total restoration of the indoor pools, which have been nonoperational for several years. — Beth Mlady, cleveland, 12 May 2022 Due to the volatility of crypto assets, companies have said this approach doesn’t reflect their financial condition or their operating results, and have pushed to apply fair-value accounting rules instead. — Mark Maurer, WSJ, 11 May 2022 Because Berg only looked at data up to 2010, the research may not reflect current music trends, Science News’ Chris Gorski explains. — Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 May 2022 But that doesn't reflect the vast majority of Americans today, where 89% of adults have had at least one shot. — Matthew Perrone, ajc, 9 May 2022 But Nancy Yap, executive director of the Center for Asians United for Self-Empowerment, the poll’s third community partner, said the data don’t reflect the wide economic disparities among the diverse ethnic groups that make up the community. — Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2022 Javier Cortés, on the other hand, forces me to issue a clarification that the views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect my own; a mention is not, by any means, an endorsement. — New York Times, 6 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reflect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Learn More About reflect

Dictionary Entries Near reflect

reflation

reflect

reflectance

Statistics for reflect

Last Updated

17 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Reflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflect. Accessed 22 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for reflect

reflect

verb

re·flect | \ ri-ˈflekt

reflected; reflecting

Kids Definition of reflect

1 : to bend or throw back (waves of light, sound, or heat) A polished surface reflects light.

2 : to give back an image or likeness of in the manner of a mirror The clouds were reflected in the water.

3 : to make known The book reflects her beliefs.

4 : to cause to be thought of in a specified way or in a bad way Your poor behavior reflects on the whole class.

5 : to think seriously and carefully about I reflected on the problem.

reflect

transitive verb

re·flect | \ ri-ˈflekt

Medical Definition of reflect

1 : to bend or fold back : impart a backward curve, bend, or fold to

2 : to push or lay aside (as tissue or an organ) during surgery in order to gain access to the part to be operated on the pleura were reflected and later closed over the stump

intransitive verb

: to throw back light or sound : return rays, beams, or waves