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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The Jazz didn’t play a highlight reel during the game to welcome the center back, as many teams often do for a player who returns on an opposing team. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 All four members of the quartet sat in the round to explain what New Feeling was about in a reel for publisher Abrams Books’ Instagram. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
Room for Disagreement Iowa is reeling from high gas prices and a moribund agriculture market, causing dissatisfaction with the long-ruling GOP. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Eagles banged up on both sides The Eagles will enter Monday night reeling from multiple key injuries. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 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
  • There was a change to the Heat’s bench rotation, with forward Nikola Jovic dropped out of the mix.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Nakase tightened her rotation to seven players, bringing Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini providing a spark off the bench.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of rotation
Verb
  • Once the researchers accounted for this requirement, the window for a split narrowed considerably, potentially remaining open only for black holes spinning close to their maximum possible rate.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Christopher Bell, who entered just five points behind Larson, crashed after spinning while entering the pits under green for his first pit stop on Lap 56.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • Spoelstra staggered Adebayo and Antetokounmpo’s minutes with these bench lineups.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • However, data from Agence France Tresor shows that the average maturity of French debt stands at roughly 8 years and 158 days, with debt redemptions relatively well staggered.
    — , CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of stagger
Noun
  • The two groups sued the Homeland Security Department in early October to prevent it from using federal immigration data to challenge state voter rolls.
    — Safiyah Riddle, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The panel also questioned the accuracy of the government’s data, which was compiled by cross-checking portions of California’s voter rolls, purchased by an undisclosed party, against government immigration records.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of roll
Verb
  • But hey, the dating pool isn’t the easiest place to swim these days, so live and let live.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Then, the shark made a sharp U-Turn and splashed the surfer with its tail before swimming away.
    — Stephanie Zappelli, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of swim
Verb
  • Eller took a long pass from Aaron Ekblad just inside the blue line, weaved down the right side and ripped a wrist shot from the circle past Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Chiefs had no answer for Smith-Njigba, who bobbed and weaved his way through the defense for nine catches, 150 yards and a touchdown.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of weave
Noun
  • It's got a set of pedals, as well as a twist-throttle on the right bar, controlling a 750-W nominal, 1,310-W peak, 85-Nm (63-lb-ft) electric motor between the rear wheels.
    — Loz Blain October 26, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The goal was to add social lubrication to the creaky wheels of diplomacy, but, according to several attendees, the conversation took a contentious turn.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of wheel
Verb
  • After a handful of supremely mellow releases that blended lurching ’90s breakbeats with wintry, Mazzy Star-like songwriting, their third album dives into a vat of mercurial distortion and slippery, all-consuming bass.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Irvine, who was commuting home from his job as a technician in a dark blue Volkswagen hatchback, came to an abrupt stop in free-flowing traffic, lurching to the far-right lane.
    — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of lurch

Phrases Containing reel

Browse Nearby Words

reeky
reel
reeled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reel. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on reel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reel

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of wraith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All