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

Was it an insensitive thing to say, in retrospect?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026

They called it the “Attitude Era,” and in retrospect it represented the absolute apotheosis of pre-millennium x-treme marketing.

From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026

But in retrospect, that was a linchpin moment that allowed us to stick around.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

But it wouldn’t take much—the AI boom’s turning to bust or a peace deal in the Gulf—to make today’s cheapness look expensive in retrospect.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026

It seemed so normal at the time, but, in retrospect, maybe there was a bit of a frown on his face.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz