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 Arizona newcomers would have plenty of people to reminisce about their home state with. — Idaho Statesman, 26 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for reminisce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • And like Crane, Pavese’s influence is now less felt than remembered.
    — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Panettiere’s ex-partner, former Olympic and world boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, paid tribute to Panettiere and vowed to make sure their daughter Kaya would always remember her mother.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Viewers can ponder Dunham’s dramatic stylistic shift from abstract forms to cartoonish figurative images through the exhibition’s 50 career-spanning works.
    — Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
  • In the stands, fans murmured beneath their breath, wondering what new math the Kiffin’s successor could be pondering.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Robin recalled the animal charging at him twice, leaving puncture marks near his hip from clawing at him.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The 131-foot-long installation, titled Mushrooms, recalls various 20th-century combat helmets, complete with inner padding.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
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
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
  • As shareholders contemplate which side to back in the ongoing vote, the only thing clear at this point is that the friendship between Garg and Lewis is officially lost, according to both parties.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • With local cops, plagued by rumors of departmental misdeeds, looking for a peaceful solution and federal authorities contemplating extreme action, the situation escalates.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Researchers typically devise decoding algorithms that run either on CPU’s, Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), or a field-programmable gate array to analyze these syndromes and then apply a correction to the computation.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
  • This tool can run in the background to analyze older videos and suggest ways to boost them for more views.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The half-day Istanbul tour was amazing, with a visit to Zeyrek Mosque, exploring the Basilica Cistern, and wandering the Spice Market, alive with the most fragrant foodstuffs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The third season evolved into The Vampire Lestat, exploring Lestat’s time as a rock star in a modern context alongside his origin story in the 18th century.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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