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Glite Dictionary
🔙 Looking back 🔙 To review the past
to retrospect

to retrospect

6.8
To think about past events to understand them
  • verb
  • /ˈrɛtrəˌspɛkt/
translation icon : repasar
  • And so in retrospect, there's always that part of me that's like, you know, I kept saying no to thyroid medication.

Examples

  • I like that guy, but in retrospect, I cringe about that memory.

  • In retrospect, I realize that taking that job was a mistake.

  • And when I listen to that in retrospect, I see it's got all of its parts.

  • And in retrospect, I mean, it must be in terms of hours spent with your parents.

  • And generally, I, I, I think in retrospect, it might have been a mistake to, to, to push that hard.

  • And in retrospect this probably would have been easier while it was inside out, but you figure out what works best for you.

  • But now, in retrospect, I think we may just be wondering quite a bit.

  • And, and in retrospect, you can look back and see how, how is it that people were so horrible to him?

  • When you've made investments that in retrospect, you look back on your like, I knew it, I shouldn't have done that deal.

  • Looking back on that moment in retrospect, I see how it shaped my future.

Synonyms

to look back
vsto retrospect
323 2.6

Think about the past, especially a time you remember

is more about reviewing or considering past events than mere recall
to think back
vsto retrospect
92 1.9

Remember things that happened in the past

is more formal and focuses on reviewing past periods, not mere recall
to review
vsto retrospect
20 2.3

To think about past events to remember or judge them

is broader, simply thinking about past events without judging them
to retrace
vsto retrospect
12 4.4

To think back over the events or steps that led to something

is general reflection rather than step-by-step reconstruction
to hark back
vsto retrospect
7 8.0

To be like something from an earlier time or to mention it

is about reviewing past events rather than citing origins or echoes
to cast one's mind back
vsto retrospect
2 6.3

Think about something that happened in the past to remember it

is used for general review, not only intentional recollection

How Reflective

to ruminate
10 7.6
to reflect
265 3.9
to retrospect
6.8
to look back
323 2.6
to recall
∞ 2.4

Surface Forms

retrospect infinitive
retrospected past
retrospected past participle
retrospecting present participle
retrospects third person singular

Morphology

retrospect = retro + spect

Same composition as the noun: 'retro-' + 'spect' yields 'look back', but the combining form 'spect' is not a standalone English word, so the derivation may be only partially obvious to learners.

Etymology

Retrospect is formed from retro- 'back' and -spect 'to look', so to retrospect is simply to 'look back' on past times. A helpful way to remember it is to think of 'inspect' turned backwards: you are inspecting your earlier life or choices.