retrospect

[re-truh-spekt]

noun

1. contemplation of the past; a survey of past time, events, etc.

verb (used without object)

1. to look back in thought; refer back (often followed byto ).

   to retrospect to a period in one's youth.

verb (used with object)

1. to look back upon; contemplate retrospectively.

retrospect

/ ˈrɛtrəʊˌspɛkt /

noun

1. the act of surveying things past (often in the phrase in retrospect )

verb

1. to contemplate (anything past); look back on (something)

2. to refer

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrospect¹

1595–1605; probably retro- + (pro)spect

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrospect¹

C17: from Latin retrōspicere to look back, from _retro- + specere to look

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in retrospect, in looking back on past events; upon reflection.

   It was, in retrospect, the happiest day of her life.

Example Sentences

Asked about his brother's motivation for the attack, he said: "Children are very valuable to society in they are society's future. This is only a thought I have had in retrospect."

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In retrospect, that should have been expected, as the Dodgers struggled to maintain consistency on offense over a grinding six-month regular season.

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But McVay said in retrospect that those problems stemmed more from the long-range situations he put the kickers in.

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In retrospect, it’s become clear that Kirk’s killing was barely a Band-Aid.

Read more on Salon

But some of those measures might be easier to reconstruct in retrospect, because they rely on data submitted by companies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• hindsight