reel off

verb

Definition of reel offnext
1
as in to recite
to give from memory he's able to reel off the names of all the U.S. presidents, in historical order and without pausing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to list
to specify one after another her friend proceeded to reel off the roster of losers that she had dated over the years

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 off The Penguins looked horrible early, then dazzled the home fans by reeling off five consecutive goals. — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 That’s when Odebunmi reeled off his best run of the night, a 58-yarder down the right sideline, to tie the score 6-6. — Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026 And the rest Iowa has reeled off at least eight wins all but one non-pandemic season since 2013. — Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 The Catalans then reeled off Ferran’s trophy haul at the Spotify Camp Nou, over a four and half season haul following his $63 million (€55 million) transfer from Manchester City in late 2021. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reel off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reel off
  1. recite
  2. list
  3. memorize
  4. detail
  5. outline
Verb
  • The doctor wears a Star of David necklace and, in a pivotal scene in the show’s first season, clutches it while reciting the Shema, a central Jewish prayer, during an emotional crisis.
    — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Once Walsh and Colton recited their vows and were officially declared husband and wife, their attendants sent a parachute announcing the news to the people on the ground.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of recite
Verb
  • Sguros was listed as the informant on West’s death certificate, the affidavit said, and several months after the initial death investigation, Sguros was legally authorized to release West’s remains to a cremation service business.
    — Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Pentagon's official tally lists 21 service members killed and 865 wounded in the conflict.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of list
Verb
  • Stewart joined an amateur drama group at 12 and memorized Shakespeare for fun as a teen.
    — Mark Kennedy, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The successful applicant must also be willing to wear a hospital gown, memorize scripts, improvise dialogue and provide medical students with constructive feedback on their professionalism.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of memorize
Verb
  • As the American Heart Association has detailed, blood clots and related conditions for athletes aren’t new, and athletes often recover.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Jackson has struggled at times to talk about foreign affairs or federal policy issues, like detailing how to pay for Medicare for All in a conversation with CNN’s Dana Bash in mid-October.
    — Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of detail
Verb
  • In a separate interview, Sundwall homed in on cars and economic impact, outlining efficiency honed through the methods of private business, as well as total spending transparency.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Nvidia's most recent quarterly financial filing in August outlined over $500 billion in off-balance-sheet commitments over the coming years, with a majority maturing through fiscal 2029.
    — Kif Leswing,Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of outline

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reeling off
reel off
reels
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Cite this Entry

“Reel off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reel%20off. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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