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

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

as in to ponder

Related Words

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 While fangs and stakes aren’t my forte, a gathering of friends and strangers acting goofy and reminiscing over childhood and teen memories sounded cool. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 Before the Gov Ball sound engineers cut his mic out of respect for the park’s strict curfew and noise ordinance, Pretty Flacko had to take time out to reminisce about his own breakout. — Rob Kenner, VIBE.com, 8 June 2026 Mid-Century Stereo Equipment Records have made a major comeback, and flipping through a stack of vinyl to reminisce is relaxing. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 5 June 2026 Back in March, Brady reminisced on Vivian's childhood with a sweet throwback post, sharing an old photo featuring his only daughter. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for reminisce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce

Verb

Earlier Thursday, Padilla also convened faith leaders and political figures in a roundtable discussion to defend voting rights and remember the legacy of civil rights hero John Lewis.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
The moments everyone remembers For many, the Centennial Olympic Games arrived at a pivotal time in life.

— Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of remember

Verb

The central theme was the figurative — and literal — significance of passing the ball, including asking audience members to ponder what their passing game is like and the ramifications of being a ball hog.

— Vahe Gregorian July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
Other states could soon follow — including New York, which is pondering a similar bill — in a domino effect that could completely derail the automaker’s current trajectory.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 July 2026

Definition of ponder

Verb

Plans for fireworks were still moving forward in other cities including Chicago and New York, where tall ships passed the Statue of Liberty earlier in the day, recalling the fanfare around America’s 200th anniversary in 1976.

— Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Pulisic recalled arriving at Pochettino’s temporary office for a meeting and hearing a country song.

— Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of recall

Verb

Carmy is still figuring out his next move, interviewing for an internship at an architecture firm while ruminating on his experience at the Bear.

— Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
The characters have little time to make life-or-death decisions, let alone ruminate, and the action vacillates between triage and doctors expertly improvising solutions — like Mel (Taylor Dearden) donating her own blood, and Javadi (Shabana Azeez) going MacGyver mode with a tracheal tube.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026

Definition of ruminate

Verb

To recollect, the three-member board consists of Smith and Matthew Tysdal, representing Jamie Smith.

— Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 8 July 2026
Through its characters, the book stages an argument about the virtues of various types of maps—those that are measured, those that are recollected, those that are dreamed.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Definition of recollect

Verb

Harry was said to have been contemplating bringing his children to meet the king.

— Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026
The Sox are contemplating selecting either UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson or Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the first pick.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026

Definition of contemplate

Verb

The hospital has also successfully used AI to analyze patients’ heart rhythms to tell whether someone could develop atrial fibrillation, a condition that can cause blood clots and strokes.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
What the 2023 Sleep Study Found The research by Haibin Li and Frank Qian analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (1997-2018), linked to National Death Index records through December 31, 2019.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Definition of analyze

Verb

From fans around the world trying the Metroplex’s best barbecue to exploring the Fort Worth Stockyards and hopping back on double-digit-hour flights with cowboy hats on, Haaland’s DFW experience encapsulated that completely.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
In Simulacra and Simulation, Jean Baudrillard famously explored the perils of living in a world of holograms.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

Definition of explore

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reminds

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reminisce (about)

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“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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