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

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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 Then watch Harold’s brothers reminisce about their childhood and remember their caring big brother. — Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 23 Sep. 2026 Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Jayne Eastwood and others reminisce about the 1972 Toronto production of the musical Godspell, where Short, Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, Paul Shaffer and other entertainment icons got their start. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026 Carried in on a throne held up by shirtless men, Bravo’s prodigal daughter takes the mic to speak to the crowd and reminisce on her ups and downs as an Atlanta Housewife. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026 In a 2016 interview with i-D Magazine, the two women sat down together to reminisce about their friendship. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reminisce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce

Verb

Libra September 23 – October 22 A small question could turn an ordinary errand into something worth remembering.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
Community members in the Strasburg area are honoring Graham by illuminating their homes in blue, remembering a law enforcement officer who grew up in their backyards.

— Jack Lowenstein, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of remember

Verb

The stock closed down about 4% Thursday as investors pondered the lawsuits, investigations, likely corporate jockeying and the resilience of a market driven by the gains of a few tech giants.

— Kelvin Chan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
Escott is rolling out some meditation workshops where participants will stand on a city pavement and ponder how ancient seashells and coral reefs were once turned into cement and combined with stones and sand to turn into pavements.

— Anne Makovec, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of ponder

Verb

Other officeholders who are recalled, like lawmakers or other statewide officeholders, would be replaced using existing rules for addressing vacancies — either by appointment or through a special election.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 13 Nov. 2026
Former President Joe Biden recalled a tense confrontation with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer during the final weeks of his 2024 presidential campaign, in an excerpt from his new memoir Promise Me, America.

— Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of recall

Verb

Alessandro Michele had been ruminating on a concept put forth in the book Black Swan.

— Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026
With that, the Heat and the rest of the NBA took Tuesday off, in deference to Election Day, with Spoelstra left to ruminate on referendums of his own ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of ruminate

Verb

If an employee had occasion to cross paths with him, Casey would likely have introduced himself by his first name, shaken the person’s hand, and recollected a past encounter or shown an interest in what the employee was doing.

— Marc Levinson, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of recollect

Verb

To that end, there are some important life insurance moves that policyholders should seriously contemplate making currently.

— Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
The novel begins with Percheron contemplating news of Field’s death, and proceeds to trace their youths, including their meeting, in 1807, when Field is humbled by Percheron’s virtuosity on the piano.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of contemplate

Verb

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analyzed 2017 data on diving tourism around artificial and natural reefs.

— Henry Larson, NPR, 12 Nov. 2026
In the past year alone, his department, among the largest in the country, has analyzed nearly 18,000 of these works.

— Kelley Engelbrecht, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of analyze

Verb

These experiments explored how different configurations could support coordinated object handling, transportation, and movement across challenging terrain.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
Right-hander Clay Holmes and left-hander David Peterson, in particular, make sense to explore a return to Chicago given their strengths and how they can be optimized with an elite defense behind them.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of explore

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reminds

reminisce

reminisce (about)

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“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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