reminisce

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 Over breakfast Wednesday at Fox & Goose Public House, seven of the former lawmakers reunited to reminisce and trade war stories about working with — or against — legendary California politicians Willie Brown, John Burton, and others. Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Kevin and Auggie, mistaking Chris for their dimension’s Chris, sit down with him for a drink and begin to reminisce. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025 But why reassemble at least part of the group now, other than to reminisce about old times? R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Catch up with old friends and reminisce about the good ol’ days. Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reminisce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • Williams was remembered for wearing goggles and a knee wrap and by his intensity during those games.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2025
  • That moment remains one of the most iconic and widely remembered free-agent decisions in league history.
    Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This includes watching the sketches Stiller & Meara performed on countless talk shows, critiquing their respective styles and pondering how much or little from their seemingly candid appearances and interviews was meant to be taken as truth and not performance.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Many pondered what McDavid, many who believe is the NHL’s best player, would do.
    Greg Liodice, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Guiu was recalled to the mothership after just over three weeks.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Residents recall a mass exodus of plant workers, whose sizable salaries once circulated through the county.
    Miranda Dunlap, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Nor is there much time to ruminate on how all this might relate to any relevant tensions between corporations and colonial enterprises today.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
  • In that time, the actress has ruminated on her relationship with it from the perspective gained with distance.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There were no dates recollected correctly.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Leonora liked to think of her life as calm of mind, all passion spent, or, more rarely, as emotion recollected in tranquillity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Judge Stanley Blumenfeld agreed to extend the trial date, originally contemplated for next August, to October 2026.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Before Microsoft changed its plans, Martin was contemplating a motion to delay the Village Board rezoning vote at least six months so village officials could gather more information.
    Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The study analyzed blood samples from 47 patients with severe ME/CFS and 61 healthy controls, revealing a unique pattern consistently present in patients with the condition.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Behaviours are measured through 360-degree reviews and employee surveys, where data can be broken down by function to analyze the individual impact of leaders.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Schwinn Koen Balance Bike Few toys get kids exercising and exploring the natural world like a bicycle does.
    Anja Webb, Parents, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The study aims to explore the relationship between menopause and exercise, with the goal of understanding what type(s) and duration of exercise may alleviate the common symptoms of menopause.
    Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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