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

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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 viral reel that originated the chant features two women, who seem to be in their early 20s, dressed in casual streetwear, leading the chant while a man holds a poster depicting Modi as a little monkey. — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026 Wide receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden delivered highlight-reel catches, while cornerback Benjamin St-Juste made a crucial interception. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Verb
Earlier, during 7-on-7 in the red zone, Mahomes threaded a perfect pass just inside the back-left pylon to Thornton, who couldn’t reel it in. — Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026 While serving as mayor, the city was reeling from the Carswell Air Force Base’s closure, but it was reopened as the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in 1994. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 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
  • Prechtel gets run With Stokes out with a concussion and smallball five Salaun dealing with a sore knee, the Valkyries’ center rotation underwent a major overhaul.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • An optimist may see this as a cycle, whereby there’s rotation at the top and the status quo will shift.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of rotation
Verb
  • One planet spins almost on its side, another is hotter than the world closest to the Sun, and a moon is being continuously reshaped by volcanic eruptions.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The other potential development area has a slimmer time frame to spin to life before conditions get more hostile around midweek.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • Work has already begun on various projects, which are being staggered to avoid closing the museum completely.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The hole gently bends from right to left, with fairway bunkers staggered along both sides.
    — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of stagger
Noun
  • Make sure to ask for appetizers, be left off, as neither the crab rangoon or rolls are gluten-free.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Smythson’s backgammon set swaps the traditional bulky case for a slim roll made from the British brand’s signature cross-grain calf leather.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of roll
Verb
  • But since the 2024 Olympics, images of athletes competing — and now residents swimming — in the river have become almost familiar.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Water starts rapidly flooding the house, with a creature swimming through, clearly adept at moving underwater as had been predicted.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of swim
Verb
  • Video from the incident showed the car smashing into vehicles while weaving through traffic as it was followed by several troopers heading toward Milton.
    — Mike Toole, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The craftsmanship continues upstairs, where jamdani fabrics and wallpapers in the primary bedroom celebrate the ancient Bengal art of weaving fine diaphanous textiles, embodying the showroom’s dedication to materiality, artistry, and the human hand.
    — AD PRO, Architectural Digest, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of weave
Noun
  • After the wheels fell off Donkoh remembers the team meeting in October of last year.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • As the plane sped down the runway, air traffic controllers and a witness on the ground noticed sparks coming from near its wheels.
    — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of wheel
Verb
  • Maresca, though, does not appear to have much taste for the Premier League’s lurch towards balls into the box.
    — Sam Lee, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The United States, which had been lurching toward entry in the Second World War, was suddenly and inescapably thrust into global conflict.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of lurch

Phrases Containing reel

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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 15 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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