reflexive Definition
- 1referring back to the subject or agent of the verb, e.g. 'he hurt himself'
- 2denoting a pronoun that refers back to the subject of the clause in which it is used, e.g. 'myself', 'yourself'
- 3denoting a verb whose direct object is the same as its subject, e.g. 'she dressed'
Using reflexive: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "reflexive" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Example
He blamed himself for the accident.
Example
The cat groomed itself.
Example
The reflexive pronoun 'itself' refers back to the noun 'cat'.
reflexive Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for reflexive
- self-referential
- self-reflexive
- self-referent
Antonyms for reflexive
- transitive
- non-reflexive
Phrases with reflexive
Example
In the sentence 'I dressed myself,' 'dressed' is a reflexive verb.
Example
In the sentence 'I hurt myself,' 'myself' is a reflexive pronoun.
Example
Through reflexive thinking, she was able to identify her biases and work to overcome them.
Origins of reflexive
from Latin 'reflectere', meaning 'to bend back'
Summary: reflexive in Brief
The term 'reflexive' [rɪˈflɛksɪv] describes language elements that refer back to the subject or agent of the verb, such as reflexive pronouns like 'myself' and 'yourself.' It also denotes verbs whose direct object is the same as their subject, as in 'she dressed.' 'Reflexive' extends into phrases like 'reflexive thinking,' which involves examining and adjusting one's own thoughts and behaviors.
