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retrospect

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˈrɛtrəspɛkt/ · UK /ˈretrəspekt/

retrospect means: Thinking about past events, often with a better understanding of them now.

noun

LOOKING BACKC1

Thinking about past events, often with a better understanding of them now.

  • In retrospect, we left too early.
  • The mistake seems obvious in retrospect.
  • Only in retrospect did I understand her advice.

How to use it: in retrospect (In retrospect, accepting that job was a good decision.)

Similar words: hindsight

Common phrases: in retrospect, only in retrospect

verb

REFLECT BACKC2

To think about or look back at past events.

  • He paused to retrospect on his life.
  • We retrospected over the years we had spent together.
  • The author retrospects on her childhood in the final chapter.

How to use it: retrospect on something (She retrospected on her early career.); retrospect over something (He retrospected over the events of that winter.)

Similar words: reflect, look back

Common phrases: retrospect on something, retrospect over something

Questions about retrospect

What does retrospect mean?

Thinking about past events, often with a better understanding of them now.

What is retrospect in other languages?

Türkçe: geriye bakış · Español: retrospectiva · Français: rétrospective · Deutsch: Rückblick · Italiano: retrospettiva · 日本語: 回顧

How do you pronounce retrospect?

In American English /ˈrɛtrəspɛkt/; in British English /ˈretrəspekt/.

How do you use retrospect in a sentence?

In retrospect, we left too early. The mistake seems obvious in retrospect.

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retrospect in other languages

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