reflect on the past

Meaning

This expression means to think deeply, carefully, and quietly about things that happened in the past. It often involves analyzing one's previous choices, experiences, or relationships to gain wisdom or understand oneself better.

Examples

• On his eightieth birthday, he sat by the fireplace to reflect on the past.

  On his eightieth birthday, he sat by the fireplace to reflect on the past.

• Journaling is a great way to reflect on the past and track your personal growth.

  Journaling is a great way to reflect on the past and track your personal growth.

• Instead of dwelling on regrets, she chose to reflect on the past and learn from her mistakes.

  Instead of dwelling on regrets, she chose to reflect on the past and learn from her mistakes.

• We spent the evening looking at old photo albums and reflecting on the past.

  We spent the evening looking at old photo albums and reflecting on the past.

• It is natural to reflect on the past when you are going through a major life transition.

  It is natural to reflect on the past when you are going through a major life transition.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She reflected the past for hours.

  ✓ She reflected on the past for hours.

  The verb reflect requires the preposition on (or upon) when it means to think deeply about something.

• ✗ He likes to reflect about the past.

  ✓ He likes to reflect on the past.

  Although about is sometimes used in casual speech, reflect on is the standard and far more common prepositional collocation.

Related Expressions

Practice

• New Year's Eve is a perfect time to ___ and set new goals.

  💡 Think deeply about what has already happened.

  Show answer

  reflect on the past

• The therapist encouraged him to ___ to understand his current behavior.

  💡 Look back at his history.

  Show answer

  reflect on the past