reel

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈrēl 

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

reel

2 of 5

verb (1)

reeled; reeling; reels

transitive verb

1

: to wind on or as if on a reel

2

: to draw by reeling a line

reel a fish in

intransitive verb

: to turn a reel

reelable

ˈrē-lə-bəl 

adjective

reel

3 of 5

verb (2)

reeled; reeling; reels

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

: to cause to reel

reel

4 of 5

noun (2)

: a reeling motion

reel

5 of 5

noun (3)

1

: a lively Scottish-Highland dance

also : the music for this dance

2

: virginia reel

Synonyms

Verb (2)

• spin
• swim

Noun (2)

• rotation
• spin
• roll
• wheel
• twirl

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

Noun

An Instagram reel capturing the betrayal of duty by the golden has melted hearts across the internet, reaching almost 400,000 people who liked the clip. —Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025

Raven-Symoné, who also appeared on The Cosby Show, paid tribute to Warner in an Instagram reel. —Katherine Schaffstall, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025

Verb

At the time, Heaven Hill was still reeling from a devastating 1996 fire that destroyed their Bardstown distillery and warehouses, resulting in a loss of 7.7 million gallons of bourbon. —Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Small towns, dependent on spending by local farmers, were reeling. —Thom Duffy, Billboard, 14 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Verb (2)

Middle English relen, probably from reel, noun

Noun (3)

probably from reel entry 4

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1572, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

circa 1585, 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