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in hindsightunderstanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed

Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪn ˈhaɪndsaɪt/

Example Sentences

  • In hindsight, buying 100 rolls of toilet paper during the pandemic was actually genius.
  • With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that the decision was wrong.
  • In hindsight, dating my ex's best friend probably wasn't the smartest move.

in hindsight

NOUN

[/ɪn ˈhaɪndsaɪt/]

understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed

In hindsight, he should have packed an umbrella before the picnic.
💡 Concept

In hindsight, he should have packed an umbrella before the picnic.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ɪn ˈhaɪndsaɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/ɪn ˈhaɪndsaɪt/

🌳Etymology

Roothind
Suffix-sight

Origin

The phrase 'in hindsight' combines 'hind' (Old English, meaning rear or back) and 'sight' (the ability to see). The compound evolved from the literal sense of 'looking backward' to the figurative meaning of viewing or judging past events with the benefit of knowledge gained after they occurred.

Breakdown

hind- (rear, back) + sight (vision, view) = the ability to see or understand something retrospectively, after the fact.

🎵Rhyme

insightforesighteyesight
insight
foresight
eyesight

🔗Collocations

in hindsight
with hindsight
20/20 hindsight
benefit of hindsight
hindsight bias
perfect hindsight

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

In hindsight, buying 100 rolls of toilet paper during the pandemic was actually genius.

With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that the decision was wrong.

😄 Fun example

In hindsight, dating my ex's best friend probably wasn't the smartest move.

Hindsight is 20/20, but foresight is often blurry.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

retrospectlooking backafterthoughtreflection

Antonyms

foresightpredictionanticipation

Related

insightreflectionretrospectivewisdomexperience

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