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

Relevance

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 Looking back may be a sad endeavor, so just take the time to reminisce and then get on with what today has to offer. — Judith Levy, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 Disney Channel alum, and perhaps the best figurehead for the layered look, Ashley Tisdale is the go-to internet meme for when millennials want to reminisce about the Y2K fashion choices. — Emma Childs, Glamour, 17 July 2026 But Palvin’s episode also gives the couple an opportunity to reminisce about their relationship, which began in 2018. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 7 July 2026 Donna kept additional details about the wedding private, choosing instead to reminisce about taking her sons, Travis, 36, and Jason Kelce, to watch the Fourth of July fireworks as children. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for reminisce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce

Verb

Maycen remembers her daughter running toward her, beaming with pride, after a pivotal regional doubles match that earned her the distinction.

— Lukas Weese, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
As longer, more complex passwords have become a necessity, remembering all those strings of numbers, letters, and special characters has become nearly impossible.

— Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of remember

Verb

So, Otto sits at the end of the counter, ruminating on the past weeks, then downs his glass of Gordon’s.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
The most tonally bizarre Apes movie ruminates on that question with a mixture of money-saving light comedy and mic-drop grimness.

— Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruminate

Verb

Father and son then recollect a life lived in secret as the filmmaker reflects on his own queerness.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 24 July 2026
Homer’s poem never depicts the horse and the sacking of Troy in direct action; the city’s fall is recollected only in the form of stories that glorify Greece’s soldiers.

— Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026

Definition of recollect

Verb

Pegula advanced to face Sorana Cirstea, the 36-year-old from Romania who is contemplating retirement after this season.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Moreno, who in 2003 became baseball’s first Latino owner, was still contemplating a potential exit strategy, according to new club president Molly Jolly.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of contemplate

Verb

The teachers scanned their work and used AI to analyze how their handwriting could improve.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
By analyzing more than 25,000 volcanic rocks, a new study finds that Gondwana likely accounted for around 80 percent of total global land area around 500 million years ago.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of analyze

Verb

Most travelers get out and explore the destinations, and there are often free transfers in ports and complimentary tours to keep them busy.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026
Elsewhere, dining ranges from casual beachside fare and an award-winning bar serving signature cocktails to the Agave Study, where guests can explore the spirit’s provenance, production, and distinct character.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of explore

Browse Nearby Words

reminds

reminisce

reminisce (about)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of reminisce

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shofar

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes