Synonyms for

Retrospective

Verb / ˌretrʌˈspektɪv / Another word for retrospective — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Looking back on or dealing with past events or situations.

Synonyms & similar words

prospective reminiscent nostalgic recollective reviewing retral backward-looking retroactive historic historical commemorative remembrance reminding reminiscing evocative memorial musing reminiscential retrospect retroverted

Synonyms by register

Formal

hindsight review recollection reminiscence

Informal

look back review recap

Literary

reverie meditation

Antonyms

forward-looking prospective future-oriented anticipatory preliminary preceding

Common collocations

  • retrospective exhibition
  • retrospective study
  • retrospective analysis
  • retrospective valuation
  • retrospective look
  • retrospective payment
  • retrospective application

Word family

noun retrospection
adjective retrospective
adverb retrospectively

Usage note

As an adjective, 'retrospective' often refers to something applying to the past or looking back at the past. As a noun, it can refer to an exhibition of an artist's work from throughout their career.

Example sentences

  1. The student wrote a retrospective essay about their summer vacation.
  2. The retired teacher enjoyed reading a retrospective about the history of education.
  3. The company held a retrospective meeting to discuss the project's successes and failures.
  4. The artist's retrospective exhibit showcased their work from the past twenty years.
  5. The historian wrote a retrospective book about the events leading up to the American Revolution.

Quotes

  • A retrospective is always a little bit like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.
  • A retrospective sense of doom is not uncommon in survivors of natural disasters.
  • People in the arts often see themselves as outside of society, and often they have a retrospective view of their work.

Try these popular words

the and that for you with was this are have not from

Practice

Play the Word Synonyms game · Choose level (start near 1)

Worksheets

Grade 4 · Grade 5 · Grade 6

Topics

Guides

Explore more words