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 While sports fans are excited for this year’s games, there are those who reminisce about their time on that March Madness court. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026 Nearly 50 Naismith Hall of Famers were participants, and many reminisce for the documentary. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026 Watch O'Brien reminisce on his Letterman appearance in the video below. Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026 And leading up to the premiere, the Road to 50 episodes have given fans an opportunity to reminisce about the show and recall the upcoming players who will star on season 50. Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reminisce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • Reasonableness, like tolerance, is best seen as a convention of restraint, sustained because everyone remembers, however vaguely, what happens when the treaty collapses.
    Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • This is a blueberry recipe to remember.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The medical drama's season 2 finale ended on a cliffhanger Thursday, April 16, with Wyle's character pondering a three-month sabbatical and a motorcycle ride across the country.
    Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The philosopher Biggie Smalls once pondered the nature of dangerously escalating rivalries.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • During a January episode of Dinner’s On Me, the pair recalled the hysterical moment that the show’s casting director, Jeff Greenberg, walked directly into a glass wall near the show’s craft service area.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
  • But titles feel almost superfluous aboard Evrima, where everyone from the tender drivers to food and beverage leads will pause to actually get to know you, and recall your name and story (and even your drink order) throughout your stay to make the entire experience feel organic and warm.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • My assignment was to ruminate on the quiet, to contemplate it, and if all went well, to exult in it.
    Matt Crossman, Midwest Living, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Delery ruminates on her wastrel youth.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Cole recollected that Linda seemed compassionate.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • But the Bruins recollected themselves, and the flow state returned on the other side of the timeout.
    Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Zbur said future expansion would be based on its success in Santa Monica, and that such expansion is already contemplated.
    Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
  • As Jackson County officials contemplated what to call the state-of-the-art twin stadiums due to open in the early 1970s, one obvious name emerged.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
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, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Celonis analyzed the 5,000 delivery runs a day the brewery was executing, worked out how to make the runs more efficient, and reduced the number of journeys by 17%.
    Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Sydney, meanwhile, wants to continue exploring her connection to Xzavier.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Barrow, a prominent voice in skate culture, also hosts a series with Thrasher Magazine exploring skate spots around the world.
    Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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