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 The best part of the wake sequence is when Caroline and John reminisce about the mundane, like when Caroline got in trouble for having a weed plant at Hyannis Port. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026 Shortly after the opening night, Perry, who has acted and directed in over 40 Steppenwolf productions, took time to reminisce about the theater company. Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026 Patriots quarterback Drake Maye sits down with Maria Taylor to reminisce on attending Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium as a child, discuss what family means to him, react to messages from his teammates, and more. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026 Toliver isn’t one to reminisce about the past. Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reminisce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • Does anybody remember Ali Hassan al-Majid?
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Jaxson Hayes remembered the bruising the Lakers got at Madison Square Garden a month ago when the New York Knicks bullied them on the boards, outscored them by 14 in the second half and had six players score in double figures.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The marble statue, who has had centuries to ponder her own desires and discomforts, must retrain the woman to put herself first.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Anderson has been pondering it for a while.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Christopher Waldo, an Asian American classicist at the University of Washington, recalled.
    Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
  • During the negotiations for the stadium, many West End residents recalled the disappointment of Hope VI.
    Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • If your friend or family member is struggling to keep up with daily responsibilities, constantly ruminating about relationship issues, or expressing a sense of hopelessness, consider bringing it up, says Francesca Emma, a therapist in New York.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
  • The film ruminates on guilt, familial strife, and trauma with Ball’s signature bittersweet touch, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But the Bruins recollected themselves, and the flow state returned on the other side of the timeout.
    Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
  • That suits the artless, unfiltered way Yo describes her life, spending a fair amount of time recollecting her own childhood.
    Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Indeed, in recent weeks, judges in two federal cases have drawn a line that seems to have eluded many others contemplating AI.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • By contemplating these three items right now, savers can better determine which of the two accounts fits their needs and goals better.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Engineers analyze the information to confirm that the missile system performs exactly as expected.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
  • While there is little agreement about the addresses, there is broader agreement for a separate section of Senate Bill 325 that would create a new task force that would analyze how to handle large requests for information by using artificial intelligence.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Additionally, the train only runs once per day, so travelers who get off to explore will need to stay the night and book another ticket to continue their travels.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Future studies using more detailed climate models will explore how these processes interact and whether the salt effect remains strong under more realistic conditions.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 7 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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