reel

noun

ˈrēl 

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

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

Examples of reel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 20-year-old was a persistent nuisance pressing Swiss defenders and nearly produced a highlight-reel goal, ripping a powerful shot that Gregor Kobel tipped onto the crossbar with a spectacular save in the 49th minute. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026

Collacuro used a Quantum Snapshot rod with a Mitchell 308X reel. —Ken Perrotte, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026

Win or lose, the plays will be clipped incessantly, jammed into highlight reels or viral tweets, and B-roll of fans flooding the streets past subway stops adorned in Knicks colors and Timberlands will be plastered all over a thousand documentaries. —Kyle Wagner, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026

That moment has lived for decades on sports blooper reels. —Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hrēol; akin to Old Norse hræll weaver's reed, Greek krekein to weave

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reel

• reel in
• reel off
• reel-to-reel
• sizzle reel
• spinning reel
• Virginia reel

Rhymes for reel

• beal
• chiel
• ciel
• creel
• deal
• diel
• eel
• feel
• feil
• heal
• heel
• keel

Kids Definition

reel

1 of 5 noun

ˈrē(ə)l 

1

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 verb

1

: 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

reelable

ˈrē-lə-bəl 

adjective

reeler noun

reel

3 of 5 verb

1

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