plural reels
1
: a revolvable device on which something flexible is wound: such as
a
: a small windlass at the butt of a fishing rod for the line
b
chiefly British
: a spool or bobbin for sewing thread
c
: a flanged spool for photographic film
especially
: one for movies
2
: a quantity of something wound on a reel
3
a
: a compilation of video clips
a blooper/demo/gag reel
This supercut edits together montages from 10 classic '80s movies into one, half-hour highlight reel.—
Michele Debczak
Michele Debczak
b
: a video posted on the Internet (as on a social media platform)
One of the biggest stars to give the new shoes a shot is Ciara, who posted a reel on Instagram showing off her look.—Devon Forward
Devon Forward
reeled; reeling; reels
: to turn a reel
reeled; reeling; reels
1
a
: to turn or move round and round
b
: to be in a whirl
2
: to behave in a violent disorderly manner
3
: to waver or fall back (as from a blow)
4
: to walk or move unsteadily
: to cause to reel
1
: a lively Scottish-Highland dance
also
: the music for this dance
2
Examples of reel in a Sentence
Verb (2)
his mind reeled upon hearing the news that his employer had been indicted for fraud
got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand
Noun (2)
she slipped and, after an out-of-control reel, fell on her backside
Recent Examples on the Web
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
After Friedmann’s arrest, Hall’s staff had combed through two million hours of footage from the Downtown Detention Center’s six hundred cameras, compiling a reel of Friedmann’s every movement in the jail.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Embry remembers going a little too dramatic with one of his one-liners, only for Williamson to reel him back.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reel
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Noun
The inventory has morphed over the years as the technology has moved from old-fashioned film reels to digital tapes and DVDs.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
After Friedmann’s arrest, Hall’s staff had combed through two million hours of footage from the Downtown Detention Center’s six hundred cameras, compiling a reel of Friedmann’s every movement in the jail.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
Hollywood is still reeling from previous mergers, in addition to a sharp pullback in film and television production locally as filmmakers chase tax credits offered overseas and in other states, including New York and New Jersey.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Embry remembers going a little too dramatic with one of his one-liners, only for Williamson to reel him back.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reel
Cite this Entry
“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reel. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reel
1 of 5 noun1
a
: a device that can be turned round and round and on which something flexible is wound
b
: a device which is set on the handle of a fishing pole and used for winding up or letting out the line
c
: a narrow spool with a rim used to guide photographic film or magnetic tape
2
: a quantity of something wound on a reel
3
: a frame for drying clothes
reel
2 of 5 verb1
: to wind on or as if on a reel
2
: to pull (as a fish) by reeling a line
3
: to wind or turn a reel
reeler
noun
reel
3 of 5 verb1
a
: to whirl around
reeling in a dance
b
: to be in a whirl
heads reeling with excitement
2
: to fall back (as from a blow)
3
: to walk or move unsteadily
reel
4 of 5 noun
: a reeling motion
reel
5 of 5 noun
: a lively dance originally of the Scottish Highlands
also
: the music for this dance
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