Reflect (Verb)

Meaning ¹

Give evidence of a certain behavior; "His lack of interest in the project reflects badly on him".

Classification

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.

Examples

• Her constant tardiness reflects poorly on her commitment to her job.
• The company's rising profits reflect well on its management team.
• The lack of originality in the design reflects the limited experience of the designer.
• The team's enthusiasm reflects their confidence in winning the championship.
• His unpreparedness for the meeting reflects badly on his leadership skills.

Hypernyms

• Manifest
• Certify
• Demonstrate
• Evidence

Meaning ²

Reflect deeply on a subject; "I mulled over the events of the afternoon"; "philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years"; "The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate".

Classification

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.

Examples

• She sat by the river, allowing her mind to reflect on the choices that had led her to this moment.
• After the breakup, he took time to reflect deeply on what he had done wrong in the relationship.
• The professor asked her students to reflect critically on the arguments presented in the documentary.
• During meditation, she learned to reflect inwardly on her thoughts and emotions to gain clarity.
• The detective had to reflect thoroughly on the evidence collected to piece together the events of the crime.

Synonyms

• Think Over
• Mull
• Excogitate
• Chew Over
• Ruminate
• Speculate
• Mull Over
• Meditate
• Contemplate
• Muse
• Ponder

Hypernyms

• Think
• Cogitate
• Cerebrate

Hyponyms

• Theologise
• Theologize
• Consider
• Puzzle
• Introspect
• Bethink
• Cogitate
• Question
• Wonder
• Study
• Premeditate

Related Words

• Reflective (adjective)

Meaning ³

Be bright by reflecting or casting light; "Drive carefully--the wet road reflects".

Classification

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering.

Examples

• The full moon reflects off the calm lake water, creating an ethereal glow.
• The freshly polished mirror reflects the vibrant colors of the room.
• The rain-soaked pavement reflects the car headlights like a silver sheet of glass.
• The white walls of the cave reflect the light of the flashlight, illuminating hidden formations.
• The smooth ice reflects the skaters' movements like a perfect mirror image.

Synonyms

• Shine

Hypernyms

• Give Off
• Give Out

Hyponyms

• Scintillate
• Coruscate

Related Words

• Reflective (adjective)

Meaning ⁴

Manifest or bring back; "This action reflects his true beliefs".

Classification

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling.

Examples

• The calmness of the lake on that serene morning reflects the peace that lies within the forest.
• Her love for children reflects in her charitable work at the local orphanage.
• This new policy reflects the company's dedication to sustainability and eco-friendliness.
• Her actions reflect the strong values that her parents instilled in her.
• The new artwork reflects the artist's interest in social justice and equality.

Hypernyms

• Point
• Show
• Designate

Meaning ⁵

Give evidence of the quality of; "The mess in his dorm room reflects on the student".

Classification

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.

Examples

• The elegance of her design reflects well on her as an architect.
• Their polite communication reflects kindly on their upbringing.
• The condition of the car reflects poorly on its owner.
• The company's yearly profits reflect favorably on their business strategy.
• Their actions reflect badly on the school they attend.

Hypernyms

• Manifest
• Certify
• Demonstrate
• Evidence

Meaning ⁶

To throw or bend back (from a surface); "Sound is reflected well in this auditorium".

Classification

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling.

Examples

• The mirror will reflect the light and make the room appear brighter.
• The sound system in the concert hall was designed to reflect sound clearly.
• In still waters, the surrounding landscape is perfectly reflected.
• Acoustic panels are used to absorb sound that otherwise would be reflected.
• The polished floors will reflect any dirt or dust that falls on them.

Synonyms

• Reverberate

Related Words

• Reflector (noun)

Meaning ⁷

Show an image of; "her sunglasses reflected his image".

Classification

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling.

Examples

• The mirror reflected a beautiful sunset on the horizon.
• Her still sunglasses reflected his image back to him.
• The dark glasses reflected the bright lights of the city.
• The windowpane reflected the colors of the flowers outside.
• The frozen lake reflected the trees like a perfect photograph.