reflect
verb
re·flect
| \ ri-ˈflekt
\
\
reflected;
reflecting;
reflects
Definition of reflect
1
: to prevent passage of and cause to change direction
a mirror reflects light
2
: to give back or exhibit as an image, likeness, or outline : mirror
the clouds were reflected in the water
3
: to bring or cast as a result
his attitude reflects little credit on his judgment
4
: to make manifest or apparent : show
the painting reflects his artistic vision the pulse reflects the condition of the heart
6
: to bend or fold back
1
: to throw back light or sound
2a
: to think quietly and calmly
b
: to express a thought or opinion resulting from reflection
3a
: to tend to bring reproach or discredit
an investigation that reflects on all the members of the department
b
: to bring about a specified appearance or characterization
an act which reflects well on her
c
: to have a bearing or influence
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Examples of reflect in a Sentence
The old church is reflected in the glass exterior of the skyscraper.
Her book clearly reflects her beliefs.
Where you learned a language is reflected in your accent.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Follow me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline *** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference. — Jon Wilner, The Denver Post, "Pac-12 team previews: Breakthrough season possible for Cal if the offense is no longer offensive," 16 Aug. 2019 Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors. — Ian Bremmer, Time, "What Happens Next in the Hong Kong Protests," 16 Aug. 2019 The prices of the Patriots’ one-year contract, in other words, would probably reflect greater optimism than their 10-year contract. — Neil Irwin, New York Times, "What’s the Deal With That Inverted Yield Curve? A Sports Analogy Might Help," 15 Aug. 2019 Opportunities, however, don’t always reflect the desire. — Nicole Blackwood, chicagotribune.com, "‘Murdering Macbeth’ reinvents Shakespeare for today, inviting new audiences to discover an old story," 15 Aug. 2019 Our response to this event should reflect that fact. — Christopher Tremoglie, National Review, "Philly Mayor Peddles False Narrative for Gun Control After a Man with a Long Criminal History Shoots Six Police Officers," 15 Aug. 2019 Che then reflected on performing stand-up at a birthday party at a club. — Katherine Schaffstall, The Hollywood Reporter, "Michael Che Says Democrats Should Be "More Prepared" Ahead of 2020 Election," 15 Aug. 2019 The Twitter posts reflected a growing anxiety within the White House about problems in the economy, which many advisers believe will determine whether the president wins reelection. — Damian Paletta, BostonGlobe.com, "Stock losses deepen as key recession warning surfaces," 14 Aug. 2019 If put into effect, the order would reflect a significant escalation by President Trump in his frequent attacks against social media companies over an alleged but unproven systemic bias against conservatives by technology platforms. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "It’s time to end “trending” on Twitter," 13 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reflect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for reflect
reflect
verb
English Language Learners Definition of reflect
of light, sound, etc.
: to move in one direction, hit a surface, and then quickly move in a different and usually opposite direction
: to show the image of (something) on a surface
: to show (something) : to make (something) known
See the full definition for reflect in the English Language Learners Dictionary
reflect
verb
re·flect
| \ ri-ˈflekt
\
\
reflected;
reflecting
Kids Definition of reflect
1
: to bend or throw back (waves of light, sound, or heat)
A polished surface reflects light.
2
: to give back an image or likeness of in the manner of a mirror
The clouds were reflected in the water.
3
: to make known
The book reflects her beliefs.
4
: to cause to be thought of in a specified way or in a bad way
Your poor behavior reflects on the whole class.
5
: to think seriously and carefully about
I reflected on the problem.
reflect
transitive verb