REMINISCE Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'reminisce' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of reminisce are recall , recollect , remember , and remind . While all these words mean "to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind," reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone. // old college friends like to reminisce

Q: In what contexts can 'recall' take the place of 'reminisce'?

The words recall and reminisce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech. // can't recall the words of the song

Q: Where would 'recollect' be a reasonable alternative to 'reminisce'?

The synonyms recollect and reminisce are sometimes interchangeable, but recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered. // as near as I can recollect

Q: When can 'remember' be used instead of 'reminisce'?

While in some cases nearly identical to reminisce , remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled. // remembers that day as though it were yesterday

Q: When is 'remind' a more appropriate choice than 'reminisce'?

In some situations, the words remind and reminisce are roughly equivalent. However, remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity. // that reminds me of a story

reminisce

verb

Definition of reminisce

as in to remember

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Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in to ponder

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word reminisce distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of reminisce are recall, recollect, remember, and remind. While all these words mean "to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind," reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.

old college friends like to reminisce

In what contexts can recall take the place of reminisce?

The words recall and reminisce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.

can't recall the words of the song

Where would recollect be a reasonable alternative to reminisce?

The synonyms recollect and reminisce are sometimes interchangeable, but recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.

as near as I can recollect

When can remember be used instead of reminisce?

While in some cases nearly identical to reminisce, remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled.

remembers that day as though it were yesterday

When is remind a more appropriate choice than reminisce?

In some situations, the words remind and reminisce are roughly equivalent. However, remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.

that reminds me of a story

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 reminisce Then watch Harold’s brothers reminisce about their childhood and remember their caring big brother. — Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 23 Sep. 2026 Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Jayne Eastwood and others reminisce about the 1972 Toronto production of the musical Godspell, where Short, Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, Paul Shaffer and other entertainment icons got their start. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026 Carried in on a throne held up by shirtless men, Bravo’s prodigal daughter takes the mic to speak to the crowd and reminisce on her ups and downs as an Atlanta Housewife. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026 In a 2016 interview with i-D Magazine, the two women sat down together to reminisce about their friendship. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reminisce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce

Verb

The Robinson family was remembered in a joint statement provided to Fox News Digital.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Forget my feet and then remember them; become overwhelmed by long wait times, then ground myself; slip into autopilot, then return.

— Robert M. Kinast, STAT, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of remember

Verb

In California, voters pondered whether to approve a one-off 5% tax on individuals with more than $1 billion in assets, with most of the money raised going toward health care services.

— Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Plenty of others, namely frustrated fans, are pondering the other stuff for him.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of ponder

Verb

In brain-mapping studies that recalled Wilder Penfield’s pioneering work, his team steadily uncovered fundamental principles of how speech is represented by neural activity.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
At its very top, the structure features a golden-hued cherub hoisting a flaming torch that recalls a smaller version of the Statue of Liberty.

— Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of recall

Verb

With that, the Heat and the rest of the NBA took Tuesday off, in deference to Election Day, with Spoelstra left to ruminate on referendums of his own ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026
There’s a tendency for Luther to repeat conversations or ruminate on the same topic.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of ruminate

Verb

If an employee had occasion to cross paths with him, Casey would likely have introduced himself by his first name, shaken the person’s hand, and recollected a past encounter or shown an interest in what the employee was doing.

— Marc Levinson, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
Father and son then recollect a life lived in secret as the filmmaker reflects on his own queerness.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 24 July 2026

Definition of recollect

Verb

To that end, there are some important life insurance moves that policyholders should seriously contemplate making currently.

— Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
The novel begins with Percheron contemplating news of Field’s death, and proceeds to trace their youths, including their meeting, in 1807, when Field is humbled by Percheron’s virtuosity on the piano.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of contemplate

Verb

Federal court records out of North Carolina analyzed by the Star-Telegram in earlier reporting indicate an Ericka Lomick was convicted in 2011 of mortgage fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a plea deal.

— Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
Their mandate is to gather and analyze evidence, review previous investigative material, interview witnesses, and more.

— Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of analyze

Verb

Garcia, who secured a release from his LIV contract in October, has outlined plans to return to the DP World Tour and explore a possible return to the PGA Tour.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
To play Stallone, Ippolito explored the hardships that shaped — and fueled — the older actor, including a difficult childhood, limited parental support and a profound sense of isolation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of explore

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reminds

reminisce

reminisce (about)

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“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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