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 There may soon come a day when consultants reminisce about creating PowerPoint presentations by hand. Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026 Thirty years later, the actress got to reconnect with Ventimiglia on her daytime talk show, Sherri, and reminisce about Rewind. Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for reminisce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • Turning professional The club’s general manager Martín Ortega still remembers watching Diomandé train for the first time with the senior squad.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Someone has to notice the school notice, remember the appointment, update the calendar, add groceries to the list, and make sure everyone understands what needs to happen next.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Though not outright as conceptual as its predecessors, La Nueva Violencia leaves room to ponder celebrity overexposure and the mind-warping effects of the content age.
    Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, the fast-casual restaurant chain's CEO and co-founder woke up pondering the country's ongoing cyclospora outbreak.
    Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • One Army recruiter recalled the only applicant who mentioned current events wanted to know whether recently released UFO videos were real.
    Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That’s why Cooluli recalled 250,000 10-liter and 15-liter minifridges.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The actor’s outfit was adapted from Ackermann’s Fall-Winter 2026 ready-to-wear collection, which ruminated on the language of desire and seduction, and the magnetism of opposites.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • These self stories can lock people in place and lead them to ruminate on their own disempowerment.
    Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 20 July 2026
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
Verb
  • The group’s predictions are nightmarish and agonizing to even contemplate.
    Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • As South Korea and Japan contemplate acquiring the bomb, the START treaty has expired, and China won't negotiate on arms control.
    Editorial Board, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In another trial, researchers with the UC San Diego School of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University are also analyzing blood from 84 adult participants with HIV and abnormal levels of body fat buildup.
    Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than simply applying basic color segmentation, Hi3D analyzes the model’s visual information while considering manufacturing requirements.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In Texas, lawmakers have been exploring a ban on foreign nationals using Texas surrogates – a move surrogacy experts worry could be the first step toward a statewide ban on the practice.
    Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The exhibition will feature 10 immersive zones, each inviting visitors into the world of Schulz (known as Sparky) and Peanuts, exploring his enduring influence on culture.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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