reflect

(rĭ-flĕkt')

v., -flect·ed, -flect·ing, -flects.

v.tr.

1. To throw or bend back (light, for example) from a surface. See synonyms at echo.
2. To give back or show an image of (an object); mirror.
3. To make apparent; express or manifest: Her work reflects intelligence.
4. To bring as a consequence: The victory reflects credit on the coach.
5. Archaic. To bend back.

v.intr.

1. To be bent or thrown back: Her voice reflected off the canyon walls.
2. To give something back, as light or sound: a shiny surface that reflects well.
3. 1. To give evidence of the characteristics or qualities of someone or something: That student's performance reflects well on the whole school.
   2. To bring blame or discredit: Hasty preparation of the report will reflect on you.
4. 1. To think seriously. See synonyms at think.
   2. To express carefully considered thoughts: In the essay, he reflects on his career.

[Middle English reflecten, from Old French reflecter, from Latin reflectere, to bend back : re-, re- + flectere, to bend.]

View more Health videos

verb

1. To send back the sound of: echo, rebound, reecho, repeat, resound, reverberate. See sounds/pleasant sounds/unpleasant sounds/neutral sounds or silence.
2. To send back or form an image of: image, mirror. See show/hide.
3. To copy (another) slavishly: echo, image, imitate, mimic, mirror, parrot, repeat. See same/different/compare.
4. To think or think about carefully and at length: chew on (or over), cogitate, consider, contemplate, deliberate, entertain, excogitate, meditate, mull, muse¹, ponder, revolve, ruminate, study, think, think out, think over, think through, turn over, weigh. Idioms: cudgel one's brains, put on one's thinking cap, rack one's brain. See thoughts.
5. To use the powers of the mind, as in conceiving ideas, drawing inferences, and making judgments: cerebrate, cogitate, deliberate, ratiocinate, speculate, think. Idioms: put on one's thinking cap, use one's head. See thoughts.

v

Definition: give back
Antonyms: absorb

v

Definition: think about
Antonyms: disregard, ignore

IN BRIEF: To throw back or be thrown back from a surface, such as light, heat, and sound. Also: To think over; to think carefully.

Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it. — Ernest Holmes

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

as in: bouncing off of
sign description: The R-hand is placed in the center of the palm of the opposite hand, then reflects off away from the body.

---

to change the path of electromagnetic radiation, when it meets a surface, such that it returns partially or completely in a direction on the same side of the surface as the source.

Previous:	reference electrode, reference, reelin
Next:	reflex, refolding, refraction

For a list of words related to reflect, see:

• Thinking, Judgment, and Consideration - reflect: consider quietly

---

See words rhyming with "reflect."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Reflect.

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - kaste tilbage, reflektere, afspejle
v. intr. - reflektere over, tænke over

Nederlands (Dutch)
weerkaatsen, weergeven, zich bezinnen, nadenken, terugbuigen, tot (on)eer strekken, kleinerende opmerkingen maken over

Français (French)
v. tr. - (lit, fig) refléter, (lit) renvoyer, réfléchir, se dire, penser
v. intr. - réfléchir (à), faire honneur à, impliquer

idioms:

• reflect on    réfléchir à

Deutsch (German)
v. - reflektieren, widerspiegeln, nachdenken (über)

idioms:

• reflect on    nachdenken Über

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - αντικατοπτρίζω/-ομαι σε, αντανακλώ/-ώμαι, (αντι)καθρεφτίζω/-ομαι, αναλογίζομαι, συλλογίζομαι, έχω αντίκτυπο

Italiano (Italian)
riprodurre, riflettere

Português (Portuguese)
v. - refletir, exprimir

Русский (Russian)
отражать, обдумывать, задуматься

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - reflejar, reflexionar, meditar, pensar, reflectar
v. intr. - reflejarse, perjudicar

idioms:

• reflect on    reflejarse sobre

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - reflektera, fundera

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
反射, 反映, 表现, 照出, 映出, 带给, 招致, 思考, 反省

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 反射, 反映, 表現, 照出, 映出, 帶給, 招致
v. intr. - 反射, 思考, 映出, 反省

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 반사하다, 비추다, 숙고하다
v. intr. - 반사하다, 반향하다, 물건을 비추다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 反射する, 反響する, 映す, よく考える, 反映する, もたらす, 悪影響を及ぼす

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يعكس, يفكر مليا‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮שיקף, הטיל חזרה (אור), החזיר, ביטא, גער‬
v. intr. - ‮הרהר, חשב, שקל, העיר הערת זלזול, בצבץ‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.