Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words
1

reel

play
noun \ ˈrēl \

Definition of reel

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 motion pictures
2 :a quantity of something wound on a reel

People Are Reading

stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!
image2143067130
9 Slang Words With Academic Origins
alt-59bab5dbb4997
Trending: 'Bodega' Startup Draws Criticism, Mockery
alt-59bff395cf879
What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

Origin and Etymology of reel

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

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

2

reel

verb

Definition of reel

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

play \ˈrē-lə-bəl\ adjective

First Known Use of reel

14th century

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

3

reel

verb

Definition of reel

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

Origin and Etymology of reel

Middle English relen, probably from reel, noun

4

reel

noun

Definition of reel

:a reeling motion

First Known Use of reel

1572

5

reel

noun

Definition of reel

1 :a lively Scottish-Highland dance; also :the music for this dance
2 :virginia reel

Origin and Etymology of reel

probably from 4reel

Phrases Related to REEL

Related Phrases

REEL Defined for Kids

1

reel

play
noun \ ˈrēl \

Definition of reel for Students

1 :a device that can be turned round and round to wind up something flexible
  • a fishing rod and reel
2 :a quantity of something wound on a reel
  • a reel of film
2

reel

verb

Definition of reel for Students

reeled; reeling
1 :to wind on a reel
2 :to pull by the use of a reel
  • I reeled in a fish.
— reel off
:to say or recite rapidly or easily
  • He can reel off the answers.
3

reel

verb

Definition of reel for Students

reeled; reeling
1 :to whirl or spin around
2 :to be in a confused or dizzy state
  • Our heads were reeling with excitement.
3 :to fall back suddenly (as after being hit)
4 :to walk or move unsteadily :stagger
4

reel

noun

Definition of reel for Students

:a lively folk dance

Learn More about reel

  1. See words that rhyme with reel Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reel Spanish Central: Translation of reel Nglish: Translation of reel for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of reel for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reel

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up reel? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

glabrous

play

smooth or hairless

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. bodega "Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

  2. carceral Of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison

  3. allegory No spoilers!

  4. hurricane 'A tropical cyclone'

  5. rescind To take away; cancel; repeal

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

reel

Test Your Vocabulary

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

  • stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
  • Which is a synonym of fuliginous?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

alt-59bff395cf879
What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

Its recent usage is hard to shrug off.

alt-59bad350d88f1
Welcome to the New Words

From 'hive mind' to 'sriracha'

image2143067130
9 Slang Words With Academic Origins

Class is in session.

image624847743
8 Foods Named After Real People

A delicious collection of eponymous foods

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz
name-that-color-logo
Name that Color!

NEW! Additional colors! More obscure than before!

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game