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
That – more than any big throw against the Dolphins defense or impressive high reel – will be the ultimate determinant of his growth. — Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026 Modi started to make reels to appeal to the young protesters. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
Characters like Jacob Merrick, the small-town Jersey cop whose Pentagon clerk sister’s suicide has left him reeling. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026 In other words, OpenAI needs a competent team of AI ethicists now than ever before as the industry reels from the possibility of frontier AI models going rogue, in what many experts say is a cybersecurity nightmare in the making. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 12 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
  • The Astros’ rotation is in such a state that ruling anyone out as a candidate to start games seems silly, but their actions indicate Imai is something of a last resort.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The 25-year-old Whisenhunt isn’t capitalizing on his opportunity to earn staying power in San Francisco’s rotation.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of rotation
Verb
  • That was a move partly instigated to develop a new crop of fast bowlers, but a home series defeat to Bangladesh two years ago and the loss of the first Test to England in October 2024 prompted the PCB to switch to spin-friendly tracks.
    — Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • His approach, and the propaganda machine that has spun it as a law-and-order success story, has turned Bukele into an international figure, and cast leaders like Petro and Cepeda, who helped design Petro’s strategy, as soft on crime.
    — Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • When the chute opened, Paper Cut thrashed across the arena until, at the sound of the buzzer, Jacobson launched himself off the animal and staggered away, his chaps flapping.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Another argument favors sacrificing the long summer break for more frequent shorter breaks staggered throughout the school year.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of stagger
Noun
  • Accessibility The hotel includes two accessible rooms, each with a king bed, roll-in shower, and private balcony.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The roll is a brioche that’s soft and fluffy enough on the inside and toasted just to the point of a light char on the outside.
    — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of roll
Verb
  • In July, a 17-year-old died while swimming in a Milford quarry.
    — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • On Instagram, young people were sharing videos about how to swim into Ceuta.
    — Miguel Macias, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of swim
Verb
  • This film weaves that footage with new images of his exile, a poetic documentary essay that refuses the urgency of breaking news.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Colman’s upcoming Wicker film, in which her fisherwoman character asks Peter Dinklage’s basketmaker to weave her a husband, garnered buzz after the trailer — teasing Alexander Skarsgård’s straw transformation — was released at the end of July.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of weave
Noun
  • The Slate Truck is a rear-wheel-drive EV with a 205-mile range that can be transformed from a two-seat pickup into a five-seat SUV.
    — Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Both the Princess and the Queen are authentic paddle-wheel boats.
    — John Lauritsen, CBS News, 20 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 22 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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