Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

reel off

verb

Definition of reel off 

transitive verb

1 : to tell or recite readily and usually at length reel off a few jokes to break the ice

2 : to chalk up usually as a series

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about reel off

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for reel off

Synonyms

recite, repeat, say

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of reel off in a Sentence

he's able to reel off the names of all the U.S. presidents, in historical order and without pausing her friend proceeded to reel off the roster of losers that she had dated over the years

First Known Use of reel off

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about reel off

Statistics for reel off

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for reel off

The first known use of reel off was in 1837

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on reel off

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with reel off

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reel off

Nglish: Translation of reel off for Spanish Speakers

Comments on reel off

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

epitome

a typical or ideal example

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Find the Cousins

  • a-large-tree-with-many-branches
  • Which pair shares a common word ancestor?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

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

Ask the Editors

Word Games