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reels off

verb

present tense third-person singular of reel off
1
as in recites
to give from memory he's able to reel off the names of all the U.S. presidents, in historical order and without pausing

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2
as in lists
to specify one after another her friend proceeded to reel off the roster of losers that she had dated over the years

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 reels off When the dazed young woman reels off quotes from an obscure self-help book, her new acolytes take her words as gnomic wisdom. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 Francis reels off an impressive list of work taking place this weekend, including the Belgian Open golf, the EuroLeague Final Four basketball and, of course, the final ten Premier League matches. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 May 2026 Ole Miss reels off a 10-4 run to open the second half and Sean Miller takes a timeout. — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 7 Feb. 2026 In a sort of overture to his story of the Grand Inquisitor, Ivan reels off various episodes involving the sufferings of children. — Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025 But Whiddett reels off a variety of reasons why a client of bespoke means might choose MTM, relating to both time and intention. — Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reels off
  1. recites
  2. lists
  3. details
  4. outlines
Verb
  • Dodd recites it from memory in Wolverine’s voice with a growl.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Nadal, with a wink, recites the various physical tics involved in his serving routine.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Definition of recites
Verb
  • The group noted Paramount, in its regulatory filings, still lists its Times Square offices in New York as its corporate headquarters — not its Melrose Avenue campus in Hollywood.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Trump lists eight separate investment accounts but doesn’t give any indication of which institutions manage them.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of lists
Verb
  • His memoir, released Tuesday, details his early life fleeing Vietnam with his father, time in refugee camps, his life as a child actor and his triumphant return to the screen.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Kim is a co-author of the study, published 17 September in Science, which details Mount Mantap’s ongoing seismic activity.
    — Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of details
Verb
  • For practices planning to bill Medicare, CMS outlines a separate enrollment process that includes obtaining an NPI, completing enrollment through PECOS and working with the appropriate Medicare administrative contractor.
    — Ajay Prasad, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • That page also outlines how the agency helped emergency managers assess the damage in New York City just after the attacks and discusses some of the ways NASA has honored 9/11 victims and their families over the years.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of outlines

Browse Nearby Words

reels
reels off
reemploy
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Cite this Entry

“Reels off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reels%20off. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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