reel off

1
as in to recite
to give from memory he's able to reel off the names of all the U.S. presidents, in historical order and without pausing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 off The acting legend, who was baptized and became a minister at the end of 2024, has entered his zen era, content to reel off aphorisms about fame and filmmaking; taking shots while walking backwards into his own mystique. Thomas Page, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025 Trump reeled off a list of recent violent crimes in Washington, D.C. to justify his actions. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025 He’s reeled off 8-, 10- and 12-yard runs fairly consistently. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2025 The Caravan led 28-21, then reeled off 27 straight points for a 55-34 win. Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for reel off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reel off
Verb
  • The inclusion on one concourse wall of the poem ‘Goodison is forever’ that PJ Smith recited at the old ground’s final act as the home of the men’s team in May is another neat touch.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • In her decision, Judge Burroughs was obviously persuaded by Harvard’s narrative of the case and recited much of it.
    Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In a bizarre twist, that denial letter listed her husband as the patient but made reference to the care of a newborn, not that of a 52-year-old man having a mental health crisis.
    Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Instead, the only four people listed as specific targets in the search warrant have Hispanic names.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Quaid, who portrayed the imposing Cousin Eddie in the movie, said that Chase had trouble memorizing his dialogue while filming a particularly verbose breakdown scene near the climax of the film.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
  • However, it was later revealed that Kemper — who has an IQ of 131 — had memorized 28 psychological tests and the acceptable answers during his time at Atascadero.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • While speaking on a panel at the opening of the movie, which details the life and career of actor John Candy, who died at 43 in 1994, Reynolds revealed that his 2-year-old son, Olin, played a key part in convincing Bill Murray, 74, to have a role in the documentary.
    Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The department is also planning to reduce regulatory burdens on airlines and ticket agents by writing new rules detailing the definition of a flight cancellation that entitles consumers to ticket refunds, as well as revisit rules on ticket pricing and advertising.
    David Shepardson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • As a result of the one-off costs, the company said its now expect full-year operating profit growth of 4% to 10% at constant exchange rates, down from the 10% to 16% outlined in its second-quarter results in August.
    Karen Gilchrist,Katrina Bishop, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy.
    Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reel off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reel%20off. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on reel off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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