reflect
[verb]
Synonyms:
- throw back, echo, mirror, reproduce, return
- show, demonstrate, display, indicate, manifest, reveal
- think, cogitate, consider, meditate, muse, ponder, ruminate, wonder

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Related Words: repeat, reproduce, study, weigh

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English Thesaurus: think, consider, weigh, give something some/a lot of thought, mull something over, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

re‧flect S2 W1 /rɪˈflekt/ verb
[Word Family: noun: reflection, reflector; verb: reflect; adjective: reflective]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: reflectere 'to bend back', from flectere 'to bend']

1. IMAGE [transitive usually passive] if a person or a thing is reflected in a mirror, glass, or water, you can see an image of the person or thing on the surface of the mirror, glass, or water
be reflected in something
She could see her face reflected in the car’s windshield.

2. BE A SIGN OF SOMETHING [transitive not usually in progressive] to show or be a sign of a particular situation or feeling:
The drop in consumer spending reflects concern about the economy.
be reflected in something
The increasing racial diversity of the US is reflected in the latest census statistics.
reflect who/what/how etc
How much you’re paid reflects how important you are to the company you work for.

3. LIGHT/HEAT/SOUND
a) [transitive] if a surface reflects light, heat, or sound, it sends back the light etc that reaches it:
Wear something white – it reflects the heat.
b) [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if light, heat, or sound reflects off something it reaches, it comes back from it

4. THINK ABOUT SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] to think carefully about something, or to say something that you have been thinking about
reflect on
He had time to reflect on his successes and failures.
reflect that
Moe reflected that he had never seen Sherry so happy.
reflect on/upon somebody/something phrasal verb
to influence people’s opinion of someone or something, especially in a bad way:
If my children are rude, that reflects on me as a parent.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

reflect
verb
I. send back light/heat/sound
ADV. dimly, dully The sun reflected dully off the stone walls. (figurative) In Milton's poem, Satan, even after his fall, dimly reflects his former glory.
back
PREP. from The screen reflects light from the sun.
off

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

reflect
II. show/express sth
ADV. clearly | directly | accurately, closely, correctly, faithfully, well Does this opinion poll accurately reflect the public mood?
adequately The punishment should adequately reflect the revulsion felt by most people for this appalling crime.
merely, simply This year's budget simply reflects the fact that we have fewer people out of work.
not necessarily The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the editor.
VERB + REFLECT be designed to The exhibition is designed to reflect the diversity of the nation and its regions.
PREP. in The condition of the house is reflected in its low price.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

reflect
III. think deeply
ADV. bitterly, gloomily, ruefully, wryly reflecting ruefully that the great American dollar didn't buy as much as it used to
VERB + REFLECT pause to | leave sb to He was left to reflect on the implications of his decision.
PREP. on/upon She paused to reflect on what she had achieved.
PHRASES time to reflect I need time to reflect.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

think to use your mind to decide about something, form an opinion, imagine something etc:
I’ve been thinking about what you said – maybe you’re right.
I need some time to think.
consider to think about something carefully before deciding what to do:
Have you considered working for a year before going to college?
weigh (also weigh up British English) to carefully think about a plan or choice by comparing all the advantages and disadvantages involved:
You need to weigh up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages), and decide which investment is the best one for you.
The committee are still weighing the alternatives.
give something some/a lot of thought to think carefully about something, before you make a final decision about it:
Why don’t you give it some thought and then get back to me?
He had obviously given the matter a lot of thought.
mull something over to think about a problem, plan etc before making a decision:
Can you give me a bit of time to mull it over?
ponder to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about something, especially a problem or something complicated:
She is still pondering what to do.
Officials are pondering ways to remove the oil from the beaches.
contemplate to think about something you might do in the future:
Did you ever contemplate resigning?
reflect formal to think carefully about something, especially something that happened in the past:
It was a good time to reflect upon the changes that had happened in my life.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

think:
I think you’re right.
She didn’t think that the film was very good.
believe to have an opinion that you are sure is right, especially about an important subject such as politics or religion:
The protestors believe that it is wrong to experiment on animals.
Do you really believe that the only solution to violence is more violence?
feel to have a particular opinion, especially one that is based on your feelings, not on facts:
She feels that there is no alternative.
I just felt that it was the right thing to do.
take the view that formal to have a particular opinion:
The court took the view that the company had acted unreasonably.
The college takes the view that smoking in the workplace is a fire risk.
consider to think about something carefully before deciding what to do:
Have you considered working for a year before going to college?
weigh (also weigh up British English) to carefully think about a plan or choice by comparing all the advantages and disadvantages involved:
You need to weigh up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages), and decide which investment is the best one for you.
The committee are still weighing the alternatives.
give something some/a lot of thought to think carefully about something, before you make a final decision about it:
Why don’t you give it some thought and then get back to me?
He had obviously given the matter a lot of thought.
mull something over to think about a problem, plan etc before making a decision:
Can you give me a bit of time to mull it over?
ponder to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about something, especially a problem or something complicated:
She is still pondering what to do.
Officials are pondering ways to remove the oil from the beaches.
contemplate to think about something you might do in the future:
Did you ever contemplate resigning?
reflect formal to think carefully about something, especially something that happened in the past:
It was a good time to reflect upon the changes that had happened in my life.
brood to keep thinking for a long time about something that worries you or that makes you angry or upset:
There’s no point brooding over things you can’t change.
dwell on something to spend too much time thinking about something sad or unpleasant:
I try to enjoy my life today and not dwell on the past.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲