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
In this highlight reel era of Pinterest board-perfect homes that look more like they were staged for a photoshoot than set up for everyday life, friction-maxxing focuses on creating meaning moments in the home. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026 Highlight reels are dominated by exceptional athletes doing exceptional things. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
The Democratic Party is reeling after new allegations against Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 July 2026 The end of Temporary Protected Status — a program intended to protect people in the event of a natural disaster — heightened concerns about deportation to a country that is reeling after twin earthquakes from June 24. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 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
  • Fedorov, previously Ukraine’s minister for digital transformation, had been in the job for just six months and was popular among troops for improving pay and frontline rotations.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • The Braves have reset their rotation coming out of the All-Star Break.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of rotation
Verb
  • In a move first reported by The Athletic, Philadelphia initially reached out to Paul when Gansey and general manager Jameer Nelson spun the trade that brought Jaylen Brown to the Sixers from the Boston Celtics.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Their powerful magnetic fields channel beams of radiation from their magnetic poles that sweep across space as the stars spin, much like the beam of a lighthouse.
    — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • This proposal establishes staggered 18-year terms of active service, allowing every president to appoint exactly two justices per term.
    — Dale V.C. Holness, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
  • Clay Lockhart staggered back to his house, shoulders bent under the weight of grief and the work of digging.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 July 2026
Definition of stagger
Noun
  • Accessibility Elevators provide access to every floor, and accessible rooms are available, with accommodations such as wheelchair accessible routes, roll-in showers, and a visual alarm for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • Those grants are then used to protect IT systems from foreign and domestic cyberattacks, update voting systems, ensure the accuracy of voter rolls and protect the integrity of ballots after they are cast.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of roll
Verb
  • The incident occurred when Clark and her colleagues took a break to swim in the Econlockhatchee River near the Barr Street trailhead, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • It is considered unsafe to swim in the rivers for at least 48 hours after a storm.
    — Finch Walker, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of swim
Verb
  • The hotel’s design concept weaves a story around the fictional historic Lamarck University, an homage to the French evolutionary theorist, which was supposedly founded in 1894, then abandoned in the 1940s, and ultimately restored by Marriott.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
  • For around 20 minutes, the pilot weaved his cheeky confession in clear loops above the Dee estuary, leaving an unmistakable signature in the sky.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of weave
Noun
  • The reduced mass and shorter power transmission path help minimize electrical losses before power reaches the wheels.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
  • Most of the time, propulsion to the front wheels comes from a second electric motor, also connected to the eCVT; this permanent-magnet synchronous traction motor has an output of 203 hp (151 kW) and 201 lb-ft (272 Nm).
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026
Definition of wheel
Verb
  • Adams’ shoulders lurched on the bench, while Richards fell to his knees, dug his afro into the grass, and closed his eyes in pain.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 7 July 2026
  • 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
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 18 Jul. 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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