verb · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ɹɪˈflɛkt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛkt
CMU ARPABET:R IH0 F L EH1 K T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
A mirror reflects the light that shines on it.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To be bent back (light, etc.) from a surface.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
The moonlight reflected from the surface of water.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To mirror, or show the image of something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The shop window reflected his image as he walked past.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To be mirrored.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
His image reflected from the shop window as he walked past.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To agree with; to closely follow.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Entries in English dictionaries aim to reflect common usage.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The team's victory reflects the Captain's abilities.
The teacher's ability reflects well on the school.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To think seriously; to ponder or consider.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
People do that sort of thing every day, without ever stopping to reflect on the consequences.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
reflect deeply on a subject
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
I mulled over the events of the afternoon
philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years
The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate
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.
Across languages
Translations
226 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Aramaic:
ܥܛܦ
(ʿṭaf)
— to bend back from a surface
Armenian:
անդրադարձնել
(andradarjnel)
— to bend back from a surface
Armenian:
արտացոլել
(artacʻolel)
— to bend back from a surface
Azerbaijani:
qaytarmaq
— to bend back from a surface
Azerbaijani:
əks etdirmək
— to bend back from a surface
Azerbaijani:
dəf etmək
— to bend back from a surface
Bulgarian:
отразявам
(otrazjavam)
— to bend back from a surface
Catalan:
reflectir
— to bend back from a surface
Czech:
odrážet
— to bend back from a surface
Danish:
reflektere
— to bend back from a surface
Dutch:
weerkaatsen
— to bend back from a surface
Estonian:
peegeldama
— to bend back from a surface
Finnish:
heijastaa
— to bend back from a surface
French:
refléter
— to bend back from a surface
French:
réfléchir
— to bend back from a surface
Georgian:
არეკვლა
(areḳvla)
— to bend back from a surface
Georgian:
ასხლეტა
(asxleṭa)
— to bend back from a surface
German:
reflektieren
— to bend back from a surface
German:
zurückspiegeln
— to bend back from a surface
German:
spiegeln
— to bend back from a surface
Greek:
ανακλώ
(anakló)
— to bend back from a surface
Hebrew:
החזיר
— to bend back from a surface
Hindi:
प्रतिबिंबित करना
(pratibimbit karnā)
— to bend back from a surface
Hungarian:
tükröz
— to bend back from a surface
Hungarian:
visszaver
— to bend back from a surface
Irish:
athfhill
— to bend back from a surface
Italian:
riflettere
— to bend back from a surface
Japanese:
跳ね返す
(hanekaesu)
— to bend back from a surface
Japanese:
反射する
(hansha suru)
— to bend back from a surface
Kazakh:
шағылысу
(şağylysu)
— to bend back from a surface
Kazakh:
шағылу
(şağylu)
— to bend back from a surface
Khmer:
ធ្វើឲ្យឃើញស្រមោល
(tvəə aoy khəəñ srɑmaol)
— to bend back from a surface
Khmer:
ជះស្រមោល
(cheah srɑmaol)
— to bend back from a surface
Korean:
반사(反射)하다
(bansahada)
— to bend back from a surface
Māori:
whakaata
— to bend back from a surface
Norwegian Bokmål:
reflektere
— to bend back from a surface
Norwegian Nynorsk:
reflektere
— to bend back from a surface
Old English:
glitnian
— to bend back from a surface
Polish:
odbijać
— to bend back from a surface
Polish:
odbić
— to bend back from a surface
Portuguese:
refletir
— to bend back from a surface
Russian:
отража́ть
(otražátʹ)
— to bend back from a surface
Russian:
отража́ться
(otražátʹsja)
— to bend back from a surface
Russian:
отрази́ть
(otrazítʹ)
— to bend back from a surface
Russian:
отрази́ться
(otrazítʹsja)
— to bend back from a surface
Spanish:
reflejar
— to bend back from a surface
Spanish:
reflectar
— to bend back from a surface
Thai:
สะท้อน
(sà-tɔ́ɔn)
— to bend back from a surface
Turkish:
yansıtmak
— to bend back from a surface
Ukrainian:
відбива́ти
(vidbyváty)
— to bend back from a surface
Ukrainian:
відбива́тися
(vidbyvátysja)
— to bend back from a surface
Armenian:
անդրադառնալ
(andradaṙnal)
— to be bent back from a surface
Armenian:
արտացոլվել
(artacʻolvel)
— to be bent back from a surface
Bulgarian:
отразявам се
(otrazjavam se)
— to be bent back from a surface
Estonian:
peegelduma
— to be bent back from a surface
Finnish:
heijastua
— to be bent back from a surface
Finnish:
kuvastua
— to be bent back from a surface
French:
refléter
— to be bent back from a surface
German:
sich spiegeln
— to be bent back from a surface
German:
gespiegelt werden
— to be bent back from a surface
Hebrew:
החזיר
— to be bent back from a surface
Hindi:
प्रतिबिंबित होना
(pratibimbit honā)
— to be bent back from a surface
Hungarian:
tükröződik
— to be bent back from a surface
Hungarian:
visszaverődik
— to be bent back from a surface
Irish:
athfhill
— to be bent back from a surface
Italian:
riflettere
— to be bent back from a surface
Japanese:
跳ね返る
(hanekaeru)
— to be bent back from a surface
Japanese:
反射する
(hansha suru)
— to be bent back from a surface
Khmer:
ជះស្រមោល
(cheah srɑmaol)
— to be bent back from a surface
Polish:
odbijać się
— to be bent back from a surface
Polish:
odbić się
— to be bent back from a surface
Spanish:
reflejarse
— to be bent back from a surface
Telugu:
పరావర్తనం చెందు
(parāvartanaṁ cendu)
— to be bent back from a surface
Thai:
สะท้อน
(sà-tɔ́ɔn)
— to be bent back from a surface
Turkish:
yansımak
— to be bent back from a surface
Arabic:
عَكَسَ
(ʕakasa)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Armenian:
անրադարձնել
(anradarjnel)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Armenian:
արտացոլել
(artacʻolel)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Bulgarian:
отразявам
(otrazjavam)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Chinese Mandarin:
反映
(fǎnyìng)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Chinese Mandarin:
反射
(fǎnshè)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Czech:
zrcadlit
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Czech:
odrazit
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Czech:
odrážet
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Danish:
reflektere
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Danish:
spejle
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Dutch:
weerkaatsen
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Dutch:
weerspiegelen
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Esperanto:
speguli
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Finnish:
heijastaa
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Finnish:
kuvastaa
— to mirror, or show the image of something
French:
réfléchir
— to mirror, or show the image of something
French:
refléter
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Georgian:
არეკვლა
(areḳvla)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Georgian:
ასახვა
(asaxva)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
German:
widerspiegeln
— to mirror, or show the image of something
German:
reflektieren
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Hebrew:
שיקף
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Hindi:
प्रतिबिंबित करना
(pratibimbit karnā)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Hungarian:
tükröz
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Ido:
reflektar
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Italian:
riflettere
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Japanese:
映す
(utsusu)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Japanese:
反射する
(hansha suru)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Khmer:
បញ្ចាំងឲ្យឃើញ
(bɑñchang aoy khəəñ)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Korean:
반사하다
(bansa-hada)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Lao:
ສະທ້ອນກັບ
(sa thǭn kap)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Lao:
ຄິດຄືນຫຼັງ
(khit khư̄n lang)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Māori:
whakaata
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Mongolian:
ойх тусах
(ojx tusax)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Mongolian:
дүрслэх
(dürslex)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Norwegian:
avspeile
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Norwegian:
gjenspeile
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Norwegian Bokmål:
reflektere
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Norwegian Bokmål:
speile
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Norwegian Nynorsk:
reflektere
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Norwegian Nynorsk:
spegle
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Polish:
odbijać
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Polish:
odbić
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Portuguese:
refletir
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Russian:
отража́ть
(otražátʹ)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Russian:
отрази́ть
(otrazítʹ)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Spanish:
reflejar
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Spanish:
reflectar
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Swedish:
återkasta
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Thai:
สะท้อน
(sà-tɔ́ɔn)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Turkish:
yansıtmak
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Ukrainian:
відобра́жати
(vidobrážaty)
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Vietnamese:
phản chiếu
— to mirror, or show the image of something
Armenian:
անդրադառնալ
(andradaṙnal)
— to be mirrored
Armenian:
արտացոլվել
(artacʻolvel)
— to be mirrored
Bulgarian:
отразявам се
(otrazjavam se)
— to be mirrored
Finnish:
heijastua
— to be mirrored
Finnish:
kuvastua
— to be mirrored
French:
se refléter
— to be mirrored
Hindi:
प्रतिबिंबित होना
(pratibimbit honā)
— to be mirrored
Hungarian:
tükröződik
— to be mirrored
Italian:
essere riflesso
— to be mirrored
Japanese:
映る
(utsuru)
— to be mirrored
Polish:
odbijać się
— to be mirrored
Polish:
odbić się
— to be mirrored
Thai:
สะท้อน
(sà-tɔ́ɔn)
— to be mirrored
Estonian:
kajastama
— to agree with; to closely follow
Finnish:
vastata
— to agree with; to closely follow
French:
refléter
— to agree with; to closely follow
French:
suivre
— to agree with; to closely follow
French:
s'accorder
— to agree with; to closely follow
Hungarian:
tükröz
— to agree with; to closely follow
Italian:
seguire
— to agree with; to closely follow
Italian:
riflettere
— to agree with; to closely follow
Japanese:
反映する
(han'ei suru)
— to agree with; to closely follow
Korean:
반영(反映)하다
(banyeonghada)
— to agree with; to closely follow
Norwegian Bokmål:
reflektere
— to agree with; to closely follow
Norwegian Bokmål:
gjenspeile
— to agree with; to closely follow
Thai:
สะท้อน
(sà-tɔ́ɔn)
— to agree with; to closely follow
Armenian:
արտացոլել
(artacʻolel)
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Bulgarian:
отразявам
(otrazjavam)
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Estonian:
kajastama
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Finnish:
kuvastaa
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
French:
refléter
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Hebrew:
ביטא
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Hebrew:
שיקף
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Hindi:
विचारना
(vicārnā)
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Hungarian:
tükröz
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Italian:
riflettere
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Italian:
evidenziare
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Italian:
riportare
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Japanese:
反映する
(han'ei suru)
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Latin:
video
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Norwegian Bokmål:
reflektere
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Norwegian Bokmål:
gjenspeile
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Norwegian Nynorsk:
reflektere
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Spanish:
reflejar
— to give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
Armenian:
մտորել
(mtorel)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Armenian:
խորհել
(xorhel)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Bulgarian:
размишлявам
(razmišljavam)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Catalan:
reflexionar
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Chinese Cantonese:
考慮 /考虑
(haau2 leoi6)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Chinese Mandarin:
考慮 /考虑
(kǎolǜ)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Danish:
reflektere
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Danish:
tænke over
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Dutch:
nadenken
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Dutch:
overwegen
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Esperanto:
pripensi
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Finnish:
pohtia
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Finnish:
pohdiskella
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Finnish:
miettiä
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Finnish:
reflektoida
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
French:
réfléchir
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
German:
sinnen
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
German:
nachdenken
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
German:
reflektieren
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Hebrew:
חשב
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Hebrew:
הרהר
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Hindi:
चिंतन करना
(cintan karnā)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Hungarian:
gondolkodik
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Hungarian:
gondolkozik
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Hungarian:
töpreng
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Hungarian:
eltöpreng
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Hungarian:
belegondol
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Hungarian:
elmélkedik
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Italian:
riflettere
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Māori:
huritao
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Mongolian:
бодож эргэцүүлэх
(bodož ergecüülex)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Mongolian:
тусгах
(tusgax)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Norwegian Bokmål:
reflektere
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Norwegian Bokmål:
tenke over
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Norwegian Bokmål:
gjennomtenke
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Norwegian Nynorsk:
reflektere
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Norwegian Nynorsk:
tenkje over
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Persian:
سنجیدن
(sanjidan)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Portuguese:
refletir
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Russian:
размышля́ть
(razmyšljátʹ)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Russian:
размы́слить
(razmýslitʹ)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Scottish Gaelic:
meòraich
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Scottish Gaelic:
cnuasaich
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Scottish Gaelic:
smaoinich
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Scottish Gaelic:
saoil
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Spanish:
recapacitar
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Spanish:
reflexionar
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Spanish:
cavilar
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Spanish:
discurrir
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Spanish:
deliberar
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Spanish:
elucubrar
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Swedish:
reflektera
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
Ukrainian:
розду́мувати
(rozdúmuvaty)
— to think seriously; to ponder or consider
