Reflection
n.thoughtful, calmregister not recorded
Meaning 1
Careful thought about experience, meaning, or a decision.
Reach for it when naming deliberate thought that supports learning or judgment
A short period of reflection changed her response from defensive to curious.
Choose between these
4- professional
when weighing a matter before action is central
not when Consideration may stay practical without looking inward.
- professional
review
when structured examination of past work matters
not when A review can be external and procedural rather than reflective.
- formal
contemplation
when sustained and serious thought is intended
not when Contemplation can remain abstract and detached from experience.
- formal
introspection
when examining one's own thoughts and motives is precise
not when Introspection is narrower than reflection on events or evidence.
Meaning 2
An image, light, heat, or sound returned by a surface.
Reach for it when describing the physical result of reflected energy
The still pool held a sharp reflection of the repaired tower.
Choose between these
3- everyday
image
when the visible likeness is all that matters
not when Image does not state that a surface produced it by reflection.
- everyday
mirror image
when reversed visual correspondence is exact
not when Not every reflection is mirror-clear or visibly reversed.
- literary
echo
when returned sound or figurative resemblance is intended
not when Echo is wrong for light and may imply repetition over time.
Meaning 3
A sign or expression of a quality, condition, or source.
Reach for it when linking an outcome with what it reveals about its origin
The generous schedule was a reflection of lessons learned during the pilot.
Choose between these
3- warm
expression
when a quality is visibly or verbally communicated
not when Expression may be intentional, while a reflection can be accidental.
- professional
indication
when something provides evidence of a condition
not when An indication can be weak and need not closely reflect its source.
- formal
embodiment
when the example fully represents a quality
not when Embodiment is stronger than partial reflection.
Said against
4- thoughtlessness
- absorption
- concealment
- distortion
It naturally appears in
4- time for reflection
The facilitator left time for reflection before asking for decisions.
- clear reflection
Polished steel produced a clear reflection without fragile glass.
- reflection of values
The hiring process became a reflection of values rather than slogans.
- personal reflection
Her personal reflection focused on the help she had overlooked.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English noun sense 3: serious thought or consideration opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- wiktionary, English noun sense 1: an image or energy thrown back from a surface opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- wiktionary, English noun sense 2: something showing the nature of another thing opens in a new tab for meaning 3 · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.