in retrospect

Idioms  

1. Looking backward, reflecting on the past. For example, In retrospect, he regarded his move as the best thing he'd ever done. This idiom employs retrospect in the sense of “a view of the past.” [Second half of 1600s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in retrospect

Over the years, I have come to understand that we learn our parents’ histories slowly, often in fragments, and sometimes only in retrospect.

From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2026

Legal experts say the conviction marks a victory for law enforcement officials, whose investigations into both slayings were mired in uncooperative witnesses, questionable police work and what in retrospect seem like missed opportunities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

Was it an insensitive thing to say, in retrospect?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026

Overuse of today’s AI models isn’t going to lead to a massive plume of radioactive fallout, but it could have a number of far-reaching consequences that will seem obvious in retrospect.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

What was in retrospect the most serious contemporary challenge to Lowell’s ideas came from an unlikely source.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan