Hindsight: meaning, definitions and examples
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hindsight
[ ˈhaɪndˌsaɪt ]
reflection, understanding
Hindsight refers to the understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened. It involves looking back and recognizing the significance of past decisions or actions. Often used in the phrase 'hindsight is 20/20', it emphasizes how clear things seem after the fact.
Synonyms
reconsideration, reflection, retrospection.
Examples of usage
- In hindsight, I should have studied harder for the exam.
- With hindsight, we can see the consequences of our actions.
- He regretted his choices, knowing them in hindsight.
Translations
Translations of the word "hindsight" in other languages:
🇵🇹 retrospectiva
🇮🇳 पश्चदृष्टि
🇩🇪 Rückblick
🇮🇩 pandangan ke belakang
🇺🇦 постфактум
🇵🇱 wsteczna perspektywa
🇯🇵 後知恵
🇫🇷 rétrospective
🇪🇸 perspectiva retrospectiva
🇹🇷 geriye dönük bakış
🇰🇷 회고
🇸🇦 نظرة إلى الوراء
🇨🇿 zpětný pohled
🇸🇰 spätný pohľad
🇨🇳 事后诸葛亮
🇸🇮 retrospektivni pogled
🇮🇸 afturgangur
🇰🇿 артқа көзқарас
🇬🇪 უკანასკნელი შეხედულება
🇦🇿 geriyə baxış
🇲🇽 perspectiva retrospectiva
Etymology
The word 'hindsight' is a compound noun formed from two components: 'hind', meaning 'behind', and 'sight', meaning 'the act of seeing'. Its origins can be traced back to the late 19th century, emerging from the combination of these elements. The earliest recorded usage of 'hindsight' appeared in print in the early 1980s. It came to symbolize a retrospective understanding or insight into events or decisions, emphasizing that clarity comes only once the outcome is known. Over time, the term has found a permanent place in everyday language, particularly in discussions regarding decision-making and learning from past experiences.