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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 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 council also lists ongoing open hours for volunteering at 18 community gardens.
    — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • PennDOT’s project page lists a fall 2026 construction start and an early 2028 completion, though the timeline could change once the contract is awarded.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of lists
Verb
  • The study, based on USDA Census of Agriculture data, details how the area’s rapid population growth and development demand are changing the regional agriculture economy.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The university details potential career paths for people who pursue the degree, which include communications specialist, marketing associate, marketing manager, public relations manager and public relations specialist.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of details
Verb
  • Those commitments should be included in a framework agreement, signed by all sides, which outlines the core elements of an eventual peace and enables a cessation of hostilities.
    — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Keller city council member comments After the second closed session, McMullin said the council’s resolution outlines all the concerns that Keller residents mentioned.
    — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of outlines

Browse Nearby Words

reels
reels off
reemploy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reels off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reels%20off. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of oxymoron

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All