retrospective Hear it!

retrospective definition

retro·spec·tive (re′trə spek′tiv)

adjective

  1. looking back on or directed to the past, past events, etc.
  2. looking or directed backward a retrospective view of the river
  3. applying to the past; retroactive

Etymology: retrospect + -ive

noun

a representative exhibition of the lifetime work of an artist

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

law retrospective definition - legal

retrospective Synonyms

retrospective

modif.

backward-looking, recollective, reflective, pensive; see historical, thoughtful 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

retrospective Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • present: In 1989, the Wiener Secession presented a retrospective of his works on paper.

Adjective modifier

  • major: In 1985, the National Portrait Gallery staged a major retrospective.

Modifies a noun

  • conversion: Some retrospective conversion of data generated on the older version of the database may also have occurred.

Modifying Another Word

  • fully: No records are too old to be affected it is fully retrospective.

Noun used with modifier

  • museum: It is this intention that links their works across the decades and which in turn transforms this exhibition into a museum quality retrospective.

Preposition: of

  • artist: After more than a decade I encountered the work again, in a retrospective of the late artist 's work.
retrospective usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"retrospective." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective>

APA Style

retrospective. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment