reflecting

American

[ri-flek-ting] / rɪˈflɛk tɪŋ /

adjective

casting back light, heat, sound, etc., from a surface.

An echo is heard when the reflecting surface is at a considerable distance from both the speaker and the hearer.
having a mirrorlike effect; giving back or showing an image.

The most memorable feature of Hadrian’s Villa for me was the reflecting pool at the back, surrounded by ruins and statues.
thinking, pondering, or meditating.

It is apparent to every reflecting mind that a crisis has arisen which requires the consideration and action of every peace-loving citizen.

noun

an act or instance of casting back light, heat, etc., of giving back an image, or of showing or reproducing something.

This room feels almost like it's under the sea; the mirror mimics the reflecting of the water.
an act or instance of thinking, pondering, or meditating.

We have been doing some reflecting on the year that has just passed.

Other Word Forms

nonreflecting adjective
reflectingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of reflecting

First recorded in 1525–35; reflect ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; reflect ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Her close-up at the end, we can see the whole world reflecting in her eyes and see all these emotions,” says the cinematographer.

From Los Angeles Times

Sun’s defense team argued that it was her job to cultivate relationships with Chinese diplomats and others in the community, reflecting New York City’s 600,000-strong ethnic-Chinese population as a significant voting bloc.

From The Wall Street Journal

As its operations wind down, members of the Hostages Families Forum have been reflecting on its extraordinary evolution which turned the grassroots group into a powerful international lobbying force.

From BBC

In the singles countdown, PinkPantheress was the runaway winner - but the rest of the field was tightly packed, reflecting a year where there haven't been many universally popular, culturally dominant songs.

From BBC

Google and Apple have reportedly warned some visa‑holding employees against international travel because return processing times could stretch up to a year, reflecting the sharp backlog at U.S. embassies worldwide.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023