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.

AT&T’s free cash flow was $2.5 billion in the first quarter, down from $3.1 billion a year before, reflecting the company’s stepped-up investments.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Hemsley told investors Tuesday that the quarter had “unfolded largely as expected, reflecting actions taken in the past several months to drive consistent performance across each business.”

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Peter Molyneux OBE is reflecting upon the future of the UK games industry in his office - and how he could soon be leaving it.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Cancer centers have rigorous informed consent protocols before treatment, reflecting ethical standards that were only emerging in the early transplant days.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

Regan’s already pale face got even paler, reflecting the horror I felt flooding through my system like a tidal wave.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

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