Word
retrospect
Phoneticsret·ro·spect, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹɛtɹəˌspɛkt/
UK/ɹˌɛtɹəʊspˈɛkt/
Definitions
01looking back at the past
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic · Formal
n. the act of thinking about a past event, often realizing something you did not know at the time.
n. a review or meditation on past events. Almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'in retrospect'.
“In retrospect, I should have saved more money when I was younger.”
“In retrospect, the warning signs were clearly visible, yet the administration chose to ignore the mounting evidence of a fiscal crisis.”
Usage
Commonly functions as a sentence adverbial in the fixed phrase 'in retrospect'.
Pitfall
By retrospect, I should have taken the job.
In retrospect, I should have taken the job.
The standard English idiom is 'in retrospect', not 'by' or 'with'.
Synonyms
02to look back on
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Literary
v. to look back at or think about things that happened in the past.
v. to refer back to or reflect upon past events. This verbal use is significantly less common than the noun form.
“It is helpful to retrospect on your successes at the end of the year.”
“The author tends to retrospect upon his childhood with a mixture of nostalgia and profound regret.”
Usage
Often takes the preposition 'on' or 'upon' when used intransitively.
Real-World Examples
“The challenge is to make us feel Kyle’s loss while telling (never really showing) his story in retrospect and to round out his character largely through others’ reminiscences.” “In retrospect, the experience was “hell and a nightmare”, she says.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin retrōspectum, from retrōspicio (“to look back at”), equivalent to retro- + -spect. Compare review.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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