reel in

phrasal verb

reeled in; reeling in; reels in
: to pull in (a fish that is caught on a hook on the end of a fishing line) by turning the reel of a fishing rod

Examples of reel in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After another Rams three-and-out, Shaheed ran 31 yards before Darnold found AJ Barner, who reeled in a 26-yard reception for the touchdown. Frank Nunns Oconnell, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025 The conversation captures an endlessly creative and active scientist — one day reeling in strange plankton to investigate their biophysical mechanisms and the next inventing low-cost tools to diagnose malaria in the field. Quanta Magazine, 15 Dec. 2025 Despite the Gators’ struggles on the field, Napier reeled in top-20 recruiting classes in each of his four years. Noah White, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025 Then, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made another swap with the Astros, reeling in two-time All-Star closer Ryan Pressly, seemingly solidifying the back end of the Chicago bullpen for a deep postseason run. Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reel in

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reel in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reel%20in. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on reel in

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!