Reflected Reflect I Rɪˈflekt Face Back Time People

• his face was reflected in the mirror.
• she could see herself reflected in his eyes.
• the windows reflected the bright afternoon sunlight.
• when the sun's rays hit the earth, a lot of the heat is reflected back into space.

reflect

1. to show the image of somebody/something on the surface of something such as a mirror, water or glass
• His face was reflected in the mirror.
• She could see herself reflected in his eyes.
2. to throw back light, heat, sound, etc. from a surface
• The windows reflected the bright afternoon sunlight.
• When the sun's rays hit the earth, a lot of the heat is reflected back into space.
• This material absorbs the sound, and doesn’t reflect it.
3. to show or be a sign of the nature of something or of somebody’s attitude or feeling
• Our newspaper aims to reflect the views of the local community.
• His music reflects his interest in African culture.
4. to think carefully and deeply about something
• Before I decide, I need time to reflect.
• She was left to reflect on the implications of her decision.
• On the way home he reflected that the interview had gone well.
• She reflected how different it could have been.
• ‘It could all have been so different,’ she reflected.
5. to make somebody/something appear to be good, bad, etc. to other people
• This incident reflects badly on everyone involved.

Extra Examples

• He reflected ruefully that the his money didn’t buy as much as it used to
• He was left to reflect on the implications of his decision.
• I need time to reflect.
• In Milton’s poem, Satan, even after his fall, dimly reflects his former glory.
• Light reflects directly off a face of a crystal.
• One good thing, he reflected wryly, was that none of his colleagues would find out.
• Senegalese culture strongly reflects influences from Islamic rulers.
• She paused to reflect on what she had achieved.
• The condition of the house is reflected in its low price.
• The exhibition is designed to reflect the diversity of the nation and its regions.
• The punishment should adequately reflect the revulsion felt by most people for this appalling crime.
• The screen reflects light from the sun.
• The sun reflected dully off the stone walls.
• The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the editor.
• This kind of conduct reflects very poorly on you.
• This year’s budget simply reflects the fact that we have fewer people out of work.
• an opportune time to reflect critically on the city’s past
• information that may reflect negatively on research participants
• Her face reflected the power of her feelings.
• I paused to reflect how I would answer that question.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they reflect
• he / she / it reflects
• past simple reflected
• past participle reflected
• -ing form reflecting

Word Origin

• late Middle English: from Old French reflecter or Latin reflectere, from re- ‘back’ + flectere ‘to bend’.