reel 1 of 2

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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2

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
The brand posted a reel to Instagram on June 23 where the ring is shown while the Duchess of Sussex holds a basket filled with fruits and vegetables. Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 25 June 2026 With the exception of the initial shot of my cat, which was captured from a tripod, the video in my sample reel is all handheld with a long telephoto lens, the Sigma 300-600mm. Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026
Verb
Haitians in South Florida are reeling with uncertainty about what the future will look like for them without the protections and vulnerable to being forced to return to a country with gang violence, widespread hunger and political instability. Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 Much like the tragedy more than two decades ago, the full scale of destruction from the latest earthquakes may not be known for several days or weeks, as La Guaira’s residents reel from yet another disaster in their state’s history. Uriel Blanco, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for reel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reel
Noun
  • That’s a small contract, especially for a player that has given the Pacers rotation minutes at times.
    Tony East, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Keep scrolling to shop breezy button-up shirts, linen-blend tanks, and more lightweight styles that deserve a spot in your summer rotation.
    Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Codex can be helpful for a wide range of tasks like generating spreadsheets for monthly reports, using a call transcript to prepare a brief and log it into Salesforce or spinning up six different types of content from one piece of text.
    Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • There is surely some retroactive continuity here, the writer going back in time to spin an origin story about the idea that would become the center of her spiritual writing.
    Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Implementation of the program will be staggered, starting in elementary schools in 2030, for Texas’ more than 5 million students – about 10% of the national total.
    Charles J. Russo, The Conversation, 29 June 2026
  • Since the notices will be staggered, however, some borrowers may have more time.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Meanwhile, his administration has sued states for access to voter rolls and the FBI has seized materials from the 2020 election in Georgia and Arizona.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 June 2026
  • By actively stabilizing its ride height, roll, and pitch, the boat steadies the deck for transferring the pilot safely, even at speed.
    David Szondy June 27, New Atlas, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Authorities have warned people to take extra care when swimming in unsupervised areas, such as rivers or lakes, following the deaths of around 40 people in France over the past week.
    Kirsten Grieshaber, Fortune, 27 June 2026
  • Dong also unsuccessfully tried to swim to a Taiwanese island.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Experienced vine dressers weave the canes into basket-like forms that rest close to the island’s volcanic soil, protecting grapes from wind and harsh conditions.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Wingate weaves this historical horror with a modern-day mystery, illustrating the lasting trauma of children stolen for profit and the unbreakable bond of blood.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Director Alberto Rodriguez also emphasized the practical benefits of legs over wheels in industrial environments, citing comparable mechanical complexity and superior maneuverability.
    John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • There’s the possibility of one network or platform taking the rights or continuing to go with the wheel approach, where four networks share the rights and air it once every four years, or possibly even a larger wheel featuring some streamers.
    Peter White, Deadline, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Once, somewhere in southern Virginia, Dad performed the customary lurch off the highway in the direction of a promising barbecue counter.
    Rachel Tepper Paley, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
  • The same boom-and-bust dependency on the oil industry, whose profits were now funnelled through the regime and its allies, kept the country lurching from one crisis to the next.
    Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reel. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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