reminisce

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 Over breakfast Wednesday at Fox & Goose Public House, seven of the former lawmakers reunited to reminisce and trade war stories about working with — or against — legendary California politicians Willie Brown, John Burton, and others. Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Kevin and Auggie, mistaking Chris for their dimension’s Chris, sit down with him for a drink and begin to reminisce. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025 But why reassemble at least part of the group now, other than to reminisce about old times? R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Catch up with old friends and reminisce about the good ol’ days. Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reminisce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • The companies and funds that act with courage now will be remembered as bold and pioneering, versus as a group that clung to short-term safety.
    Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Stankonia collaborators remember Outkast feeling confident during recording sessions for their fourth studio album, which has been lauded for bringing the Dirty South hip-hop sensibility to such genres as funk, gospel and psychedelia.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, the Mets are back to square one, pondering a new kind of disappointment.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Over a mashup of fiddles and guitars, Tod and Jennings blend their rough-hewn voices on a song about consequences for older vices and choices, pondering when the consequences of those actions outweigh the vices themselves.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Dean and Dan Caten recalled meeting Armani during many summer holidays throughout the Mediterranean and also praised his generosity toward them and young designers.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The young bride recalls having to sleep in a new house with a new family soon after the wedding, having always slept with her mother at home until then.
    Carlotta Dotto, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Nor is there much time to ruminate on how all this might relate to any relevant tensions between corporations and colonial enterprises today.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
  • In that time, the actress has ruminated on her relationship with it from the perspective gained with distance.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There were no dates recollected correctly.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Leonora liked to think of her life as calm of mind, all passion spent, or, more rarely, as emotion recollected in tranquillity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In a Fox Business interview, Carr mentioned that the FTC is contemplating broadening its click-to-cancel rulemaking, asserting his disagreement with the previous administration’s approach to establishing the rule.
    Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Convenient scapegoat The council is widely considered unreformable because neither America nor Russia and China would ever contemplate giving up the veto privilege that gums up what could be an international peacekeeping organ.
    Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Impact Social analyzed social media discussion about each candidate in the race, which revealed that Spanberger has a net sentiment of -28, while Earle-Sears’ sentiment is +18.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • At Free Float Analytics, an independent research firm that studies boards and executive leaders, analysts Matt Moscardi and Damion Rallis have also analyzed women in the C-suite and on the boards of the many companies going public this year.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Here are Madsen’s five places to recommend for dining and exploring in Scripps Ranch.
    Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Middle Tennessee's erosion-prone limestone and other hard bedrock have historically precluded Nashville leadership from exploring underground transportation.
    Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

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