reflecting

[ri-flek-ting]

adjective

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

1. 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.

2. 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

• reflectingly adverb
• nonreflecting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reflecting¹

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

South Korea’s central bank held its policy rate steady for a third straight meeting, reflecting caution over financial-stability risks and uncertainty over tariffs.

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The 10-year Treasury yield has fallen this year to date, with its recent drop reflecting a “flight to safety” that’s partly tied to credit concerns that emerged at regional banks, said Catrambone.

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“It’s been a lot,” Snell told The Times last week, while reflecting on a difficult season now primed for a triumphant final act.

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Commercial customers are being charged a 0.26% fee for one renewal period starting Jan. 1, reflecting the lower fire losses for those policies.

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Sales at French luxury-fashion house Hermes RMS -4.18%decrease; red down pointing triangle continued to grow, reflecting a resilient appetite for the highest end of luxury goods even as shoppers tighten their purse strings elsewhere.

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Related Words

• analytical 
• attentive 
• cerebral 
• earnest 
• melancholy 
• pensive 
• rational 
• reasonable 
• reflective 
• serious 
• sober 
• studious 
• wise