reflect

verb

ri-FLEKT/ɹɪˈflɛkt/

7 meanings of reflect

1
verbtransitive
To throw back light, heat, or sound that hits a surface.
Like a wall bouncing a ball straight back at you.
The white walls reflect sunlight into every corner of the room.
A polished metal sheet reflects heat back toward its source.
Similarbounce, deflect, return, throw
Oppositeabsorb
Note
2
verbintransitive
To think carefully about something for a while.
Like looking back along a path you walked to see where you went.
She likes to reflect on her day before going to sleep.
He sat quietly and reflected on the choices he had made.
Similarponder, consider, contemplate, think, meditate
Note
3
verbtransitive
To show the image of something, the way a mirror does.
Like seeing your face in a shiny spoon.
Mirrors reflect whatever stands in front of them.
The still lake reflected the snowy peaks at dawn.
Similarmirror, show
Note
4
verbintransitive
To bounce back off a surface, the way light or sound does.
Like a ball bouncing back when it hits a wall.
Light reflects off the smooth water and into our eyes.
Sound waves reflect from hard walls and create an echo.
Similarbounce, glint, rebound
5
verbtransitive
To show what someone or something is really like.
Like how a clean kitchen shows that someone takes care of their home.
Test scores do not always reflect how hard a student works.
The careful design reflects the architect's attention to detail.
Similarshow, demonstrate, reveal, indicate, display
Note
6
verbintransitive
To appear as an image on a shiny surface.
Like seeing the moon appear on the surface of a still lake.
Tall buildings reflect in the glass tower across the road.
The candle flame reflected in the dark window.
7
verbtransitive
To match or closely follow something else.
Like a copy that closely matches the original.
The new rules reflect what most members wanted.
Her painting reflects the style of her teacher.
Similarmirror, match, follow, echo

Practice

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Origin

From Latin words meaning "again" (re-) and "bend" (flectō), so "to bend back." It came into English through Old French.