Meaning & use
reflection
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Meanings
nouncountable
The image you see when light bounces back from a surface such as a mirror or water.
Grammar: Take an or the: her reflection in the glass.
Patterns
- a reflection in something
- a reflection of something
She smiled at her reflection in the mirror.
The reflection of the trees shimmered on the lake.
I saw my reflection in the shop window.
noununcountablephysicstechnical
The process by which light, heat or sound bounces back from a surface instead of passing through.
Grammar: A science term: reflection of light.
Patterns
- reflection of light
Reflection of sunlight from snow can hurt your eyes.
The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence.
Sound reflection creates an echo in the hall.
noununcountable
Serious thought about something, often after an event or over a period of time.
Grammar: Often used with on or upon: reflection on the past.
Patterns
- reflection on something
- on reflection
After some reflection, he changed his mind.
On reflection, I think I was wrong.
The retreat offered time for quiet reflection.
nouncountablefigurative
A sign or result that shows what something is like or how it is doing.
Grammar: Often followed by of: a reflection of the times.
Patterns
- a reflection of something
- a reflection on someone
The messy room is a reflection of her busy week.
The scores are a reflection of hard work.
His behavior was a poor reflection on the whole team.
Word forms
| plural | reflections |
|---|
Common combinations
- on reflection
- On reflection, I should have called first.
- quiet reflection
- The garden is a place for quiet reflection.
- reflection of light
- The reflection of light made the pond sparkle.
- a poor reflection on
- The delay is a poor reflection on the airline.
- mirror reflection
- A mirror reflection showed him the stain.
- deep reflection
- The decision required deep reflection.
Synonyms and how they differ
- image
- Image is broader and can mean any picture, whereas reflection is specifically the picture bounced from a surface.
- contemplation
- Contemplation is a longer, more peaceful kind of thinking than reflection.
- thought
- Thought is general and can be brief, while reflection implies looking back and considering carefully.
- indication
- Indication points to a sign of something, whereas reflection says it mirrors the thing.
Opposites
Word family
- reflect verb
- to throw back or think carefully
- reflective adjective
- thoughtful, or able to reflect light
- reflector noun
- an object that reflects light
- reflectively adverb
- in a thoughtful way
- reflexive adjective
- done without thinking, or grammatically referring back
Commonly confused: reflection or reflexion? reflection or reflex?
reflection vs reflexion
Reflexion is an older British spelling of reflection and is rarely used today.
reflection vs reflex
A reflex is an automatic body reaction, not a thoughtful consideration.
Practice
Which sentence uses reflection to mean serious thinking?
Choose one answer.
After careful reflection means after thinking seriously. The other sentences use reflection for mirrored images or light.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reflection”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.