Reflexive
adjective
Referring back to itself. It is used to show that the action of the verb is done to itself.
In the sentence 'She injured herself', 'herself' is a reflexive pronoun.
Often appears as...
- reflexive pronoun
- reflexive verb
noun
A reflexive word or form.
In French, 'se' is a reflexive.
Often appears as...
- use of reflexives
- reflexives in grammar
Usage tips
Academic
noun
In mathematics, a relation that always includes the relationship of a quantity with itself.
Equality is a reflexive relation.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
In computing, it refers to operations or programs that can manipulate or modify themselves.
A reflexive programming language can change its own instructions while it's running.
Often appears as...
- reflexive programming
- reflexive operation
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
In psychology, it refers to the process of exploring, and understanding your own ideas and emotions.
Reflexive thoughts or reflexive analysis enable us to understand our mental and emotional states.
Often appears as...
- reflexive thoughts
- reflexive analysis
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Referring back to itself. It is used to show that the action of the verb is done to itself.
In the sentence 'She injured herself', 'herself' is a reflexive pronoun.
Often appears as...
- reflexive pronoun
- reflexive verb
noun
A reflexive word or form.
In French, 'se' is a reflexive.
Often appears as...
- use of reflexives
- reflexives in grammar
Usage tips
Academic
noun
In mathematics, a relation that always includes the relationship of a quantity with itself.
Equality is a reflexive relation.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
In computing, it refers to operations or programs that can manipulate or modify themselves.
A reflexive programming language can change its own instructions while it's running.
Often appears as...
- reflexive programming
- reflexive operation
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
In psychology, it refers to the process of exploring, and understanding your own ideas and emotions.
Reflexive thoughts or reflexive analysis enable us to understand our mental and emotional states.
Often appears as...
- reflexive thoughts
- reflexive analysis
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/2Self-Action
Reflexive words imply the subject does something to themselves, not others.
He prepared himself for the meeting.
Pro Tip 2/2Verb Agreement
Ensure reflexive pronouns agree with their subject in number and gender.
The artists expressed themselves through their work.
Pro Tip 1/2Self-Action
Reflexive words imply the subject does something to themselves, not others.
He prepared himself for the meeting.
Pro Tip 2/2Verb Agreement
Ensure reflexive pronouns agree with their subject in number and gender.
The artists expressed themselves through their work.
Pro Tip 1/2Self-Action
Reflexive words imply the subject does something to themselves, not others.
He prepared himself for the meeting.
Pro Tip 2/2Verb Agreement
Ensure reflexive pronouns agree with their subject in number and gender.
The artists expressed themselves through their work.
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Video examples
Laura Boushnak: For...
Only after explaining to them how their stories might influence other women's lives, how they would become role models for their own community, did some agree. Seeking a collaborative and reflexive approach, I asked them to write their own words and ideas on prints of their own images.
Video examples
The power of introverts...
so reflexively but I wasn't even aware that I was making them now this is what many introverts to you and it's our loss for sure but it is also our colleagues loss and our community's loss and at the risk of sounding grandiose it is the world's loss because when it comes to
Video examples
New bionics let us run,...
and we put forth fundamental principles of dance, reflexive dance capability, and we embedded that intelligence into the bionic limb. Bionics is not only about making people stronger and faster. Our expression, our humanity can be embedded into electromechanics.
Video examples
When to use "me",...
and "myself" is a reflexive or intensive pronoun. So what does that reveal about where each word belongs? Let's start with the difference between subject and object. Imagine the subject as the actor in a sentence and the object as the word that is acted upon.
Video examples
How to lead a...
so deeply divided -- when we live in a world in which cousins and aunts and uncles can't talk to one another, when we often live in separate and distinct news ecosystems, and when we reflexively and habitually malign and dismiss those with whom we disagree?
Video examples
How do animals...
but stay if it's a good shell. And octopi that may originally curl up an injured arm to protect it will risk using it to catch prey. That suggests that these animals make value judgements around sensory input instead of just reacting reflexively to harm.
Video examples
How optical illusions...
even on a flat piece of paper, our brain reflexively creates the 3D concave or convex shape. Now for that creepy Lincoln upside down face. Faces trigger activity in areas of the brain that have specifically evolved to help us recognize faces.
Video examples
On choosing to be gay PIPE...
understand why you might think that because several decades ago when anti-gay forces first started to insist that being gay was a choice gay folks and gay rights groups sort of reflexively said no no no no no not a
Video examples
How your brain decides...
Our brains seem to reflexively associate beauty and good. And this reflexive association may be the biologic trigger for the many social effects of beauty. Attractive people receive all kinds of advantages in life.
Video examples
Mindbending Backbender PIPE...
point of possible injury they don't send that distress signal so the central nervous system never sends out the reflexive signal to contract
Video examples
Laura Boushnak: For...
Only after explaining to them how their stories might influence other women's lives, how they would become role models for their own community, did some agree. Seeking a collaborative and reflexive approach, I asked them to write their own words and ideas on prints of their own images.
Video examples
The power of introverts...
so reflexively but I wasn't even aware that I was making them now this is what many introverts to you and it's our loss for sure but it is also our colleagues loss and our community's loss and at the risk of sounding grandiose it is the world's loss because when it comes to
Video examples
New bionics let us run,...
and we put forth fundamental principles of dance, reflexive dance capability, and we embedded that intelligence into the bionic limb. Bionics is not only about making people stronger and faster. Our expression, our humanity can be embedded into electromechanics.
Video examples
When to use "me",...
and "myself" is a reflexive or intensive pronoun. So what does that reveal about where each word belongs? Let's start with the difference between subject and object. Imagine the subject as the actor in a sentence and the object as the word that is acted upon.
Video examples
How to lead a...
so deeply divided -- when we live in a world in which cousins and aunts and uncles can't talk to one another, when we often live in separate and distinct news ecosystems, and when we reflexively and habitually malign and dismiss those with whom we disagree?
Video examples
How do animals...
but stay if it's a good shell. And octopi that may originally curl up an injured arm to protect it will risk using it to catch prey. That suggests that these animals make value judgements around sensory input instead of just reacting reflexively to harm.
Video examples
How optical illusions...
even on a flat piece of paper, our brain reflexively creates the 3D concave or convex shape. Now for that creepy Lincoln upside down face. Faces trigger activity in areas of the brain that have specifically evolved to help us recognize faces.
Video examples
On choosing to be gay PIPE...
understand why you might think that because several decades ago when anti-gay forces first started to insist that being gay was a choice gay folks and gay rights groups sort of reflexively said no no no no no not a
Video examples
How your brain decides...
Our brains seem to reflexively associate beauty and good. And this reflexive association may be the biologic trigger for the many social effects of beauty. Attractive people receive all kinds of advantages in life.
Video examples
Mindbending Backbender PIPE...
point of possible injury they don't send that distress signal so the central nervous system never sends out the reflexive signal to contract
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Steve Rushin
American Journalist
Because I'm a bald, dim-witted writer, people think I couldn't possibly be her husband, so they occasionally confuse me for someone more glamorous. At O'Hare airport, a man asked if he could take Rebecca's photo. When I reflexively stepped away, he said, 'No, no, no. I want your picture too, Andre Agassi.
Quote examples
Eric Metaxas
American Author
Christians who enjoy and support art and culture, who make it a priority in their lives, and who reach out to those in the arts instead of reflexively pushing them away, can help bring the culture toward a renewed appreciation of goodness, truth, and beauty. And that is good for everyone.
Quote examples
Asha Rangappa
American Lawyer
Reflexive control is a 'uniquely Russian' technique of psychological manipulation through disinformation. The idea is to feed your adversary a set of assumptions that will produce a predictable response: That response, in turn, furthers a goal that advances your interests.
Quote examples
Jim Webb
American Politician
The function of combat is not merely to perpetrate violence, but to perpetrate violence on command, instantaneously and reflexively. The function of the service academies is to prepare men for leadership positions where they may someday exercise that command.
Quote examples
Tom Malinowski
Over the years, increasing partisanship has led many members of Congress reflexively to speak in favor of any military action launched by presidents of their own party while withholding support to presidents of the opposing party.
Quote examples
Edward Sapir
American Scientist
A logical analysis of reflexive usages in French shows, however, that this simplicity is an illusion and that, so far from helping the foreigner, it is more calculated to bother him.
Quote examples
Sonia Sotomayor
American Judge
We have to look and ensure that we're paying attention to what we're doing, so that we don't reflexively institute processes and procedures that exclude people without thought.
Quote examples
Heather Mac Donald
American Editor
Too many high-school graduates are reflexively going to college as it is, without a clue what they are doing there or how to take advantage of higher education.
Quote examples
Kim Elizabeth
American Writer
When I write I simply follow my heart. And my flights of fantasy. It is not done with a conscious effort. I'm continually inspired and write reflexively.
Quote examples
Richard Neal
American Politician
Let me say at the outset that I do not reflexively oppose international trade.
Quote examples
Steve Rushin
American Journalist
Because I'm a bald, dim-witted writer, people think I couldn't possibly be her husband, so they occasionally confuse me for someone more glamorous. At O'Hare airport, a man asked if he could take Rebecca's photo. When I reflexively stepped away, he said, 'No, no, no. I want your picture too, Andre Agassi.
Quote examples
Eric Metaxas
American Author
Christians who enjoy and support art and culture, who make it a priority in their lives, and who reach out to those in the arts instead of reflexively pushing them away, can help bring the culture toward a renewed appreciation of goodness, truth, and beauty. And that is good for everyone.
Quote examples
Asha Rangappa
American Lawyer
Reflexive control is a 'uniquely Russian' technique of psychological manipulation through disinformation. The idea is to feed your adversary a set of assumptions that will produce a predictable response: That response, in turn, furthers a goal that advances your interests.
Quote examples
Jim Webb
American Politician
The function of combat is not merely to perpetrate violence, but to perpetrate violence on command, instantaneously and reflexively. The function of the service academies is to prepare men for leadership positions where they may someday exercise that command.
Quote examples
Tom Malinowski
Over the years, increasing partisanship has led many members of Congress reflexively to speak in favor of any military action launched by presidents of their own party while withholding support to presidents of the opposing party.
Quote examples
Edward Sapir
American Scientist
A logical analysis of reflexive usages in French shows, however, that this simplicity is an illusion and that, so far from helping the foreigner, it is more calculated to bother him.
Quote examples
Sonia Sotomayor
American Judge
We have to look and ensure that we're paying attention to what we're doing, so that we don't reflexively institute processes and procedures that exclude people without thought.
Quote examples
Heather Mac Donald
American Editor
Too many high-school graduates are reflexively going to college as it is, without a clue what they are doing there or how to take advantage of higher education.
Quote examples
Kim Elizabeth
American Writer
When I write I simply follow my heart. And my flights of fantasy. It is not done with a conscious effort. I'm continually inspired and write reflexively.
Quote examples
Richard Neal
American Politician
Let me say at the outset that I do not reflexively oppose international trade.
Example 1 of 10
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