retrospective
/ˌret.rəˈspek.tɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌret.rəˈspek.tɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌre-trə-ˈspek-tiv/ (ame, mw) · /ˌretrəˈspektɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌretrəˈspektɪv/ (ame, ipa)
retrospective — noun
- retrospectivesingular
- retrospectivesplural
1. A public exhibition that brings together works an artist created throughout thei
A public exhibition that brings together works an artist created throughout their working life, often covering several decades.
The Taipei Fine Arts Museum hosted a retrospective of Kofi's ceramic sculptures last spring.
collocation: host a retrospective of [artist]
Padma visited the photographer's retrospective three times before the show finally closed.
collocation: visit a retrospective
Aylin's retrospective at the National Gallery drew huge crowds every single weekend.
The gallery catalogue for Lotte's retrospective sold out within the first week.
- exhibition
a general showing of works; a retrospective specifically surveys an artist's entire body of work
- show
more informal, does not imply the comprehensive, career-spanning scope of a retrospective
文法句型
retrospective + of + [artist]
retrospective + at + [venue]
retrospective — adjective
- retrospectivepositive
- more retrospectivecomparative
- most retrospectivesuperlative
1. Thinking about or describing events, feelings, or situations from earlier times,
Thinking about or describing events, feelings, or situations from earlier times, often with the benefit of present-day knowledge or perspective.
Aylin wrote a retrospective essay about her years working as a reporter in Beirut.
attributive use: retrospective + essay / report / analysis
The documentary took a retrospective look at the band's difficult ten-year journey.
collocation: a retrospective look at [something]
Kofi's retrospective report on the project pointed out both the successes and the failures.
In a retrospective mood, the old friends shared stories from their school days over dinner.
- backward-looking
often carries a negative tone suggesting unwillingness to change, while 'retrospective' is neutral
- nostalgic
emphasizes sentimental longing for the past rather than objective reflection
- reflective
focuses on quiet personal thought and learning, not necessarily about the distant past
- forward-looking
concerned with the future rather than reviewing the past
文法句型
retrospective + noun
be + retrospective
2. Describing a law, rule, payment, or decision that applies to a time before its e
Describing a law, rule, payment, or decision that applies to a time before its enactment — starting from an earlier date rather than from today.
The new tax law was retrospective, applying to all income earned from January last year.
predicative use: law + be + retrospective (+ applying to)
Padma received a retrospective pay rise that covered the previous six months of work.
attributive use: retrospective + pay / payment / salary adjustment
The court ruled that imposing retrospective punishment on the company violated its rights.
Critics argue that retrospective legislation unfairly punishes actions that were legal when taken.
- retroactive
more common in American English; identical in meaning for laws and payments
- prospective
applying from the present moment onward, not backward in time
文法句型
retrospective + law / legislation / payment / decision
be + retrospective
用法筆記
Common in legal and employment contexts. Often used interchangeably with 'retroactive', though 'retroactive' is more frequent in American English for this meaning.