Reflect Meaning
/ɹɪˈflɛkt/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.
verbTo be bent back (light, etc.) from a surface.
Sentence Examples
Please change your database to reflect the new address as follows.
Reflect on your own motives when making a decision.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Still water can ____ the image of a tree on its surface.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She took a moment to ____ on everything that had happened before deciding on her next move.
Word Origin & History
From Old French reflecter (“to bend back, turn back”), from Latin reflectō (“to reflect”), from re- (“again”) + flectō (“to bend, to curve”). Compare English reflex.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The admirable smoothness of the riding also reflected the greatest credit on those who, despite the difficulties caused by the shortage of men and materials, have succeeded in maintaining the track in such first-class order."
— 1946 July and August, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 213:
"With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get[…]"
— 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii:
"Standing on the mountain above Caerphilly, one may reflect upon the gap where once stood Llanbradach Viaduct, and look near at hand upon the restored ruins of Caerphilly Castle; man labours to rebuild the mediaeval whilst he ruthlessly scraps the modern."
— 1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 165:
"Not for the first time, he reflected that it was not so much the speeches that strained the nerves as the palaver that went with them."
— 1985, Justin Richards, Option Lock, page 229:
"Sitting on the dockside at Oban, watching the to-ing and fro-ing in the harbour on a perfect summer's eve, I reflect on a trip which has taken me through our busiest cities to traverse the country's main lines, as well as explore some of the furthest extremities that were literally out on a limb."
— 2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 79:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Still water can ____ the image of a tree on its surface.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She took a moment to ____ on everything that had happened before deciding on her next move.