reflectively
- adverb
- /rɪˈflɛktɪvli/
- "Mamma, I don't want to go to school anymore," she said reflectively.
- think reflectively
- reflectively assess
That is, somebody who acts automatically in the ways that he or she would like to act reflectively.
- That is, somebody who acts automatically in the ways that he or she would like to act reflectively.
- When we are not instinctively reacting in ways that we're reflectively committed to act, it is costly to us and undesirable.
Examples
-
Thus, we all have normative reason to reflectively approve of FRE because this principle is constitutive for preserving our dignity.
Academic text (2018) -
More specifically, two students commented that the online course requirements prompted them to think more reflectively about their internship experience.
Academic text (2006) -
"How the hell did you know a thing like that?" he asked, more reflectively than making actual inquiry.
Fiction book (1991) -
The course is concerned with opening our minds to the ideas and encouraging us to think reflectively.
Academic text (1996) -
It's not so easy to know which answer is the one that we reflectively endorse.
-
Of course," he added reflectively, glancing out the window, "that may be the whole idea.
Fiction book (1991) -
The researcher listens reflectively to her or his own experience and the experience of others.
Academic text (2000) -
She sat reflectively on the bench, considering the choices she had made.
-
After the meeting, he spoke reflectively about the team's future direction.
-
The teacher asked the students to think reflectively about their learning experiences.
Synonyms
In a careful way that shows you pay attention before deciding
In a serious, calm way that does not show excitement
In a quiet, serious way that shows deep thought and a little sadness
Carefully and with full attention to what you do
In a quiet, thoughtful way while you think about something
In a quiet, thoughtful way
In a quiet way that shows someone is thinking hard
When a person looks carefully at their own thoughts and feelings
In a thoughtful way that shows care for others
In a slow, thoughtful way
Antonyms
How Thoughtful
Surface Forms
Morphology
reflectively = reflective (transparent) = reflect + ive + ly
Formed by standard adverbial derivation: adding -ly to the adjective 'reflective', which itself is transparently formed from the verb 'reflect' with -ive.
Etymology
Reflectively comes from the parts re- 'back' and flect 'to bend', the same root you see in flex, which also means 'bend'. Think of light bending back in a mirror or your mind bending back to look at an idea, and so to act reflectively is to think carefully before you speak or act.