reel 1 of 2

noun

Definition of reelnext
as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point she slipped and, after an out-of-control reel, fell on her backside

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reel

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to spin
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around his mind reeled upon hearing the news that his employer had been indicted for fraud

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of reel
Noun
Think of the World Heritage List as a highlight reel of more than a thousand meaningful locations around the world, including wild landscapes, ancient ruins, significant historical sites, and more. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026 Brown gifted Woolard a watch, journal, and sweet treat per an Instagram reel of her wrapping the present. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
Verb
The Grapevine community is reeling after a 41-year-old substitute teacher and mother of two was found dead after being reported missing earlier this month. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026 Her grieving father temporarily relocates the family to Donegal, Ireland, which in 1973, as O’Donnell reminds us, was reeling from its very own Troubles. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for reel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reel
  1. rotation
  2. spin
  3. stagger
  4. roll
  5. swim
  6. weave
  7. wheel
  8. lurch
Noun
  • In the playoffs, when more off-days allow for shorter rotations, Warren and Weathers could both be options out of the bullpen, as could Clake Schmidt, who is nearing a return from last summer’s Tommy John surgery.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • After the first-place Braves failed to pick up a top-line starting pitcher ahead of the trade deadline, Elder and Grant Holmes made strong cases for the rotation Atlanta already has.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of rotation
Verb
  • Nearby, pottery wheels spin and campers record songs in the recording studio.
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Naima was a Muslim convert who likely spun Coltrane’s compass toward non-Western cultures.
    — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • The hole gently bends from right to left, with fairway bunkers staggered along both sides.
    — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The political crisis has meant that legislative elections, originally scheduled for July 27, have now been staggered into three separate days over a period of two weeks.
    — Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 26 July 2026
Definition of stagger
Noun
  • Seth Rollins hit a superplex on Reigns, but Reigns countered the roll-through with a Guillotine.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Its ray illuminated a case of wrapping-paper rolls, a wooden stool, a broken box full of old picture frames.
    — Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of roll
Verb
  • Primus could easily have been a blip, one of many abortive major label risks in a decade when the industry was swimming in cash.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Dikra is a 20-year-old migrant from Morocco CEUTA, Spain -- Dikra, a 20-year-old migrant from Morocco, had spent five days in Ceuta by Sunday after swimming to the Spanish territory with her younger sister and cousin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of swim
Verb
  • Black Bear’s Wicker, based on author Ursula Wills-Jones’s short story, The Wicker Husband, follows a fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who commissions the local basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) to weave her a husband (Skarsgård).
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The Hour of the Star, in particular, drops us into the electric landscape of 1970s Brazil, following a young (ugly) girl’s love (situationship) with a rat of a boyfriend while weaving through themes of identity, inwardness, and social class.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of weave
Noun
  • Every Fathom, even the most barebones, will have the hardware and sensors necessary to turn on BlueCruise, the company’s software that enables drivers to take their hands off the wheel while on the highway.
    — Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The flywheel sits in line with the main wheel and helps the robot maintain its balance.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of wheel
Verb
  • Republicans see Democrats lurching to the left and embracing socialism as an opening to link their opponents to the far more radical communism.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Markets have lurched up and down as oil prices shot higher because of the war with Iran.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of lurch

Phrases Containing reel

Browse Nearby Words

reeky
reel
reeled
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Cite this Entry

“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reel. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reel

Nglish: Translation of reel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reel

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