reminisce

Definition of reminiscenext

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 Nas uses the occasion to reminisce about an era when rap dudes rocked concert stages surrounded by dozens of homies laughing, smoking weed, and throwing bows. Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 13 Dec. 2025 Look at the recent photos now, and reminisce about the years that have passed since the sci-fi series premiered! Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025 Here Hedi El Kholti of Semiotext(e) and Dan Simon of Seven Stories reminisce about Indiana’s late renaissance, the role his publishers played, and on Gary as a friend. Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025 Many years in the future, Chiefs fans will gather for a beer and reminisce about quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reminisce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • Menz remembers seeing many regulars pass through their doors.
    Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Many locals remember the days when the mall was thriving and wonder if the new year will bring new life to it.
    Tori Apodaca, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Take the time to ponder outdated habits or emotional scars.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Advertisement China has long pondered surgical strikes against Taiwan’s leadership, though any such move is likely to be self-defeating, given the island is a sustained democracy.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Love recalled visiting a Nashville-area location with her best friend when they were told it had been discontinued.
    Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The founder recalled that the brand, which turns 16 this year, began with the strategy of selling bags to sneaker boutiques, which at the time typically exclusively sold shoes; his concept was well-received.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Few of them will get it, because Americans know that military action, especially to overthrow a regime, is a risky business, and certainly not something to ruminate about in the middle of the night.
    Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
  • For instance, research finds that walking in nature results in diminished activation in the area of the brain associated with sadness and ruminating thoughts.
    Stacy Shaw, Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Back at the Squawk, Joyce, Robin, and Will are recollecting themselves after the power surge and Will’s voyage into the Demogorgon.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025
  • Johnson paints Grainier’s life as a series of faces with clear entrances and exits, episodes of friendship or acquaintancy that can only be recollected as something finite and finished.
    Rory Doherty, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • People play backgammon and dance around a campfire next to a Music Trunk with a record turntable, while a couple contemplates a frozen lake.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Council members also are contemplating charging more for on-street outdoor dining.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data and creates an article based on a template created by humans.
    Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • To generate the report, Dunnhumby analyzed customer and financial data for the 81 largest supermarket, discount, superstore, club and online banners in the nation, including perceptions of retailers' value.
    Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • What that means for the rest of us is new hotspots to visit, new drinks to sip and new flavors to explore.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Written and directed by Sarnoski, the film promises to offer a much darker take on the Robin Hood stories that explores the end of the character’s life.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

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