in retrospect

Looking backward, reflecting on the past. For example, In retrospect, he regarded his move as the best thing he'd ever done. This idiom employs retrospect in the sense of “a view of the past.” [Second half of 1600s]

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Example Sentences

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The upheaval last week on the streets of Los Angeles — immigration raids sweeping up workers and leaving communities in terror, scattered protests that at times turned violent, the deployment of National Guard and Marine troops over the objections of local leaders — has been both stunning but also, in retrospect, predictable.

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Indeed, not unlike that of Sly Stone, who also died this week, the Beach Boys’ peak hit-making era looks relatively brief in retrospect: After “Good Vibrations” in 1966, the band didn’t score another No. 1 single until 1988 with “Kokomo,” which Wilson wasn’t involved in.

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Does that seem irresponsible in retrospect?

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"In retrospect he knows a lot of it is bots trying to damage Reform. It is not Reform members," he added.

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In retrospect, Spurs' failure to lure him was a sign of what was to come - a series of blows during a truly forgettable domestic season.

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in respect to in return

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