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 With these glass prints, your mom can reminisce about all of the good times and use them as a constant reminder of your love. Brittany Leitner, StyleCaster, 1 Oct. 2025 After introducing him to her friends, the pair began to reminisce about what had gone wrong in their past relationship, before delving into a steamy encounter. Rachel Choy, Refinery29, 22 Sep. 2025 The Last Decade Before the Future has been on exhibit at the museum since November 2024, and there’s still a chance to visit and reminisce about things like Netscape Navigator and Nintendo 64. Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for reminisce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in a thrilling World Series that will be remembered for decades to come, becoming the first back-to-back champions MLB has seen in 25 years.
    Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • This one billionaire would thereby be entitled to a disproportionate share of—remember, by nature limited—removals, simply by virtue of his ability to pay handsomely for them.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Just ask the folks who’ve made the college basketball committee which is currently pondering expanding its beautiful bracket to 76 teams.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
  • As with many of A24's horror movies, we're left to ponder whether anything supernatural happens as Maud's quest reaches its apotheosis, proving that fanatical belief is enough to inspire great terrors.
    Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Now in her 90s, Riddick recalled the early days of the Pumpkin Roll, when the event wasn't officially sanctioned by the city and someone at the bottom of Midland Road would tell people by radio whether there was oncoming traffic on Kavanaugh or not.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Growing up, Schwarzenegger Pratt recalls her mother creating an environment of open communication at home with her and her three siblings.
    Anna Halkidis, Parents, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Now, in his late-middle age, a much more flexible Linklater is ruminating on other notorious artists.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
  • A lot of it is simple, disciplined, ruminating in a way that won’t surprise anyone aware of his work with The National.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Vetting will include more background and criminal checks, an immigration status review and potentially recollecting biometrics data, like fingerprints and photos.
    Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
  • There were no dates recollected correctly.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Louise Hémon The jury would also like to acknowledge a director whose film transported us into an extreme landscape, and created an unsettling atmosphere that kept us contemplating the nature of lust, education, and violence.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Deacon clatters off in his truck, leaving me to contemplate my new home.
    Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Tools can track a worker’s every keystroke and mouse movement and analyze his or her emails.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
  • According to Google, Gemini analyzes data on 250 million places and compares it with Street View images to find the most visible and useful landmarks.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The researchers now plan to explore how these conditions influence the breakdown of OPEs and other emerging pollutants.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Crawford explores the lines between blood and flower, between histories, inevitabilities, and possibilities.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

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