reflective
gb/ɹɪflˈɛktɪv/ us/ɹɪflˈɛktɪv/
B2
Inglês
~ 7900
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
B2
property
1
deeply thoughtful, introspective
Quietly thinking in a deep and serious way, often about your life or feelings.
Padrão de uso:
[someone] is reflective about [something]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse "reflective" with "reflexive". "Reflective" means thoughtful or able to reflect light, while "reflexive" is mainly a grammar word (like "myself", "yourself"). Learners also sometimes use "reflective" when they just mean "careful"; "reflective" implies deeper, often personal thinking.
Sinónimos
thoughtful (Very close in meaning, but can also mean 'kind' or 'considerate', while 'reflective' focuses more on serious inner thinking.)
Antónimos
careless (Describes someone who does not think carefully or seriously before acting or deciding.)
Colocações
reflective mood
|reflective silence
|quietly reflective
|deeply reflective
|reflective essay
|reflective writing
Temas
emotions
|psychology
|education
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- After the funeral, he became quiet and reflective, replaying old memories in his mind.
- She wrote a reflective essay about how moving abroad had changed her.
- The movie put me in a reflective mood, and I started thinking about my own choices.
- Therapy gave him a reflective space to examine his past mistakes.
- On long train rides she becomes very reflective and plans her future.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- He was calm and reflective after the long talk with his father.
- The teacher asked the students to write a reflective text about their year at school.
- Sitting by the window, she felt reflective and thought about her life.
- Travel often makes people reflective about what is important to them.
adjective
B2
property
2
able to reflect light or heat
Having a surface that sends light, heat, or sound back.
Padrão de uso:
[something] is reflective
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse "reflective" with "transparent". A reflective surface sends light back, like a mirror, while a transparent surface lets light pass through, like clear glass.
Sinónimos
shiny (Everyday word for something that reflects a lot of light; "reflective" is more neutral and can sound more technical or precise.)
Antónimos
dull (Describes a surface that does not reflect much light and is not bright or shiny.)
Colocações
reflective surface
|reflective material
|reflective tape
|highly reflective
|reflective coating
|reflective vest
Temas
science
|technology
|safety
|daily life
Exemplos
- Cyclists should wear jackets with reflective strips so drivers can see them at night.
- The lake was so still and reflective that the mountains looked doubled.
- Engineers chose a highly reflective material to reduce heat inside the building.
- She stuck reflective tape on her backpack for better visibility.
- The mirror's reflective surface was scratched and no longer clear.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The moon looks bright because its surface is reflective.
- He put reflective tape on his bike for safety.
- The glass table is very reflective, so you can see your face in it.
- We need a reflective vest to walk on this dark road.
adjective
formal
C1
property
3
clearly showing or indicating something
Showing a quality, situation, or trend clearly.
Padrão de uso:
be reflective of [something]
Erro comum:
Learners may say "reflective for" or "reflective to" instead of the correct pattern "reflective of" (e.g. "The results are reflective of public opinion"). They may also overuse this formal word in casual speech where "shows" or "is a sign of" would be more natural.
Sinónimos
indicative ("Indicative of" is a very close formal synonym, often used in similar analytical or academic contexts.)
Antónimos
unrepresentative (Used when something does not show or match the larger group, trend, or reality it might seem to stand for.)
Colocações
reflective of broader trends
|reflective of reality
|reflective of society
|largely reflective of
|not reflective of
|hardly reflective of
Temas
society
|politics
|business
|analysis
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Exemplos
- The low turnout is reflective of growing public frustration with the political system.
- These survey results are broadly reflective of national attitudes toward climate policy.
- His comments are not reflective of the company's official position.
- The lack of diversity on the panel is sadly reflective of the wider industry.
- Rising food prices are reflective of deeper problems in the supply chain.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The students said the test was not reflective of what they learned in class.
- Her success is reflective of her hard work over many years.
- These numbers are reflective of a larger problem in the school.
- The film is reflective of life in a big city today.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
reflective
IPA
GB/ɹɪflˈɛktɪv/
US/ɹɪflˈɛktɪv/
Sílabas e acento
re - flect - ive (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (flect)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: reflective
Família de palavras
Core family
Related words
reflector
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unreflective
adjective
Advanced or less common
reflectiveness
noun
reflectivity
noun
Expressões
be reflective of [something]
1/bˈi ɹɪflˈɛktɪv əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
show or indicate something clearly
To clearly show a quality, situation, or trend, often in a formal or careful description.
Exemplos
- The data is reflective of wider national trends in housing.
- His angry reaction was reflective of his long-term stress at work.
- These comments are not reflective of the values of our school.
in a reflective mood
1/ˈɪn ə ɹɪflˈɛktɪv mˈud/
fixed phrase
feeling quietly deep and thoughtful
Feeling quiet and serious, and thinking deeply about your life, feelings, or past events.
Exemplos
- After the reunion, she was in a reflective mood all evening.
- Sitting by the sea put him in a reflective mood.
- The anniversary always leaves them in a reflective mood.
reflective practice
1/ɹɪflˈɛktɪv pɹˈæktɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
regular self-review of one’s work
Regular, careful thinking about your own work or actions so you can understand them better and improve, especially in jobs like teaching, nursing, or social work.
Exemplos
- Reflective practice is a key part of professional development for teachers.
- The training course encouraged reflective practice through weekly journals.
- In nursing, reflective practice helps staff learn from difficult cases.