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At the end of the year, both introspection and retrospection are common. While introspection involves looking inward and taking stock of oneself, retrospection is all about recollecting and contemplating things that happened in the past. A look back at the history of the related adjective retrospective reveals that it retains a strong connection to its past; its Latin source is retrospicere, meaning “to look back at.” Retrospective can also be used as a noun referring to an exhibition that “looks back” at an artist’s work created over a span of years. Once you have retrospective and retrospection behind you, you can also add their kin retrospect and retro to your vocabulary, too.
Examples of retrospective in a Sentence
Paul Grein, Billboard, 6 Aug. 2024
Re-Framed, a retrospective exhibit of Hom’s photographs, is open at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., through Sept. 2.
—Luke Chinman, Peoplemag, 4 Aug. 2024
Mickey Rapkin, Robb Report, 11 Aug. 2024
The Italian event, which runs Sept. 21-29, will also screen a retrospective of Schrader’s work, including Blue Collar, Hardcore, The Comfort of Strangers, Affliction, Auto Focus, The Walker, The Canyons, The Card Counter, Master Gardener, Mishima, and First Reformed.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for retrospective 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'retrospective.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Retrospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrospective. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
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