reel 1 of 2

noun

Definition of reelnext
as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point she slipped and, after an out-of-control reel, fell on her backside

Synonyms & Similar Words

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reel

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to spin
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around his mind reeled upon hearing the news that his employer had been indicted for fraud

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 reel
Noun
Their desperate hope, their cruel denial still weigh on this nation’s soul 87 years later, though most Americans only caught glimpses of the doomed passengers through news reels. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026 The brand posted a reel to Instagram on June 23 where the ring is shown while the Duchess of Sussex holds a basket filled with fruits and vegetables. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 25 June 2026
Verb
Democrats are reeling from upsets in Colorado’s primary Tuesday night as an anti-establishment wave buried a pair of party veterans. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 1 July 2026 It's also become common for Musk to make Starlink service available for free in areas where people are reeling from natural disasters and other threats. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for reel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reel
  1. rotation
  2. spin
  3. stagger
  4. roll
  5. swim
  6. weave
  7. wheel
  8. lurch
Noun
  • That’s a small contract, especially for a player that has given the Pacers rotation minutes at times.
    — Tony East, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Keep scrolling to shop breezy button-up shirts, linen-blend tanks, and more lightweight styles that deserve a spot in your summer rotation.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of rotation
Verb
  • Codex can be helpful for a wide range of tasks like generating spreadsheets for monthly reports, using a call transcript to prepare a brief and log it into Salesforce or spinning up six different types of content from one piece of text.
    — Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • There is surely some retroactive continuity here, the writer going back in time to spin an origin story about the idea that would become the center of her spiritual writing.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • Implementation of the program will be staggered, starting in elementary schools in 2030, for Texas’ more than 5 million students – about 10% of the national total.
    — Charles J. Russo, The Conversation, 29 June 2026
  • Since the notices will be staggered, however, some borrowers may have more time.
    — Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of stagger
Noun
  • While Garcia runs a steady takeout business, there are a handful of tables inside, with chili flakes in shakers and rolls of paper towel for napkins.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Few would begrudge Paraguay this recognition, but the skullduggery did produce eye-rolls and requires stronger officiating.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of roll
Verb
  • The incident occurred when Clark and her colleagues took a break to swim in the Econlockhatchee River near the Barr Street trailhead, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • It is considered unsafe to swim in the rivers for at least 48 hours after a storm.
    — Finch Walker, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of swim
Verb
  • Experienced vine dressers weave the canes into basket-like forms that rest close to the island’s volcanic soil, protecting grapes from wind and harsh conditions.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Wingate weaves this historical horror with a modern-day mystery, illustrating the lasting trauma of children stolen for profit and the unbreakable bond of blood.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
Definition of weave
Noun
  • Director Alberto Rodriguez also emphasized the practical benefits of legs over wheels in industrial environments, citing comparable mechanical complexity and superior maneuverability.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • There’s the possibility of one network or platform taking the rights or continuing to go with the wheel approach, where four networks share the rights and air it once every four years, or possibly even a larger wheel featuring some streamers.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 2 July 2026
Definition of wheel
Verb
  • Once, somewhere in southern Virginia, Dad performed the customary lurch off the highway in the direction of a promising barbecue counter.
    — Rachel Tepper Paley, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
  • The same boom-and-bust dependency on the oil industry, whose profits were now funnelled through the regime and its allies, kept the country lurching from one crisis to the next.
    — Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
Definition of lurch

Phrases Containing reel

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reeky
reel
reeled
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Cite this Entry

“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reel. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reel

Nglish: Translation of reel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reel

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