# reflected

/ɹɪˈfɫɛktɪd/ (US) · /ɹɪflˈɛktɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reflected
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. sent back light or an image

verb · CEFR B1

sent back light, heat, or sound from a surface; also, showed an image in a mirror or water.

For teachers: past tense of reflect; to throw back light, heat, or sound without absorbing it, or to produce an image on a polished surface.

- The sunlight reflected off the windows of the tall building and blinded the drivers.
- The calm surface of the lake perfectly reflected the snow-capped peaks, creating a symmetrical landscape that appeared almost artificial in its clarity.

### 2. thought deeply

verb · CEFR B2

thought carefully or deeply about something that happened in the past.

For teachers: past tense of reflect; to consider a matter carefully or to meditate on past events.

- After the meeting, she reflected on what her boss had said about her performance.
- In his later years, the statesman reflected on the difficult compromises he had made during the peace negotiations.

### 3. bounced back

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

describes light, sound, or heat that has bounced off a surface.

For teachers: describing energy, particularly electromagnetic or acoustic, that has been redirected from a surface rather than absorbed or transmitted.

- The room was bright because of the reflected light from the white walls.
- The sensor measures the intensity of reflected infrared radiation to determine the distance between the vehicle and the obstacle.

### 4. vicarious or indirect

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describes a feeling or success that you get from someone else's hard work.

For teachers: derived from another person or source; describing a quality or status enjoyed indirectly through association.

- The parents felt a sense of reflected glory when their daughter won the prize.
- He seemed to bask in the reflected prestige of his ancestors, despite having achieved very little of note himself.

## Examples

- The calm water reflected the blue sky perfectly.
- The company's recent success reflected the hard work of the entire marketing team over the last year.
- The poet's later works reflected a growing preoccupation with mortality, contrasting sharply with the exuberant and lighthearted verses of his youth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.