1
: a revolvable device on which something flexible is wound: such as
a
: a small windlass at the butt of a fishing rod for the line
b
chiefly British
: a spool or bobbin for sewing thread
c
: a flanged spool for photographic film
especially
: one for motion pictures
2
: a quantity of something wound on a reel
reeled; reeling; reels
: to turn a reel
reeled; reeling; reels
1
a
: to turn or move round and round
b
: to be in a whirl
2
: to behave in a violent disorderly manner
3
: to waver or fall back (as from a blow)
4
: to walk or move unsteadily
: to cause to reel
1
: a lively Scottish-Highland dance
also
: the music for this dance
2
Synonyms
Examples of reel in a Sentence
Verb (2)
his mind reeled upon hearing the news that his employer had been indicted for fraud
got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand
Noun (2)
she slipped and, after an out-of-control reel, fell on her backside
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Malone, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
Ukraine’s largest private electricity company, DTEK, said in a statement that three thermal power plants had been hit, further straining Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity, which was already reeling from previous assaults.
—Constant Méheut, New York Times, 8 May 2024
When Pretty Little Liars: Summer School kicks off, the Liars are still reeling from their numerous near-death experiences.
—Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 8 May 2024
Boeing is still reeling following the crashes of two 737 Max aircraft which killed a total of 346 people in 2018 and 2019.
—Russell Lewis, NPR, 6 May 2024
Investing legend Warren Buffett is something of a white whale for Tesla fans—reeling him in as a stakeholder verges on a Captain Ahab–style obsession.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 6 May 2024
Jasmine Perillo, a creator who makes content about film and fashion, created an all-white outfit with pops of tennis ball green and posted it to her Instagram reel.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 28 Apr. 2024
This news comes as the nonfiction community is still reeling from the closure of another beloved financier-producer, Participant Media, amid a larger contraction in documentary efforts by legacy media companies and studios.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
North Carolina's health insurance program for state employees is reeling from the cost and widespread use of these prescription drugs.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024
The reel contained a video of Justin singing, as well as a note to pray for Justin and Hailey.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Avid bass anglers often fish spinning reels with a braid-to-fluorocarbon leader.
—Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 9 May 2024
The podcaster shared a reel with all the fun, which included a boat ride, clear waters, blue skies, and plenty of cocktails.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 6 May 2024
Rian artfully creates reels, videos, and photographs that highlight his classmates and our Viking teams.
—Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 3 May 2024
Still, Tate grabbed their fishing rods, reels, tackle boxes and other equipment, before throwing the equipment into the woods and damaging them.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 2 May 2024
Newport Landing Whale Watching, the tour company that led the whale-watching excursion, shared a Facebook reel on Monday that showed the creature swimming with a pod of several other orcas.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 1 May 2024
How many people from TikTok or Instagram reels are even making it as a stand-up comedian?
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Verb
With America reeling from the attacks, the essay sparked considerable controversy.
—Michael Malone, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
Ukraine’s largest private electricity company, DTEK, said in a statement that three thermal power plants had been hit, further straining Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity, which was already reeling from previous assaults.
—Constant Méheut, New York Times, 8 May 2024
When Pretty Little Liars: Summer School kicks off, the Liars are still reeling from their numerous near-death experiences.
—Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 8 May 2024
Boeing is still reeling following the crashes of two 737 Max aircraft which killed a total of 346 people in 2018 and 2019.
—Russell Lewis, NPR, 6 May 2024
Investing legend Warren Buffett is something of a white whale for Tesla fans—reeling him in as a stakeholder verges on a Captain Ahab–style obsession.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 6 May 2024
Jasmine Perillo, a creator who makes content about film and fashion, created an all-white outfit with pops of tennis ball green and posted it to her Instagram reel.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 28 Apr. 2024
This news comes as the nonfiction community is still reeling from the closure of another beloved financier-producer, Participant Media, amid a larger contraction in documentary efforts by legacy media companies and studios.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
North Carolina's health insurance program for state employees is reeling from the cost and widespread use of these prescription drugs.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
Noun
The commercial sector reels from a seismic shift in office space utilization while industrial demand surges, fueled by logistics and manufacturing resurgence.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024
The reel contained a video of Justin singing, as well as a note to pray for Justin and Hailey.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Avid bass anglers often fish spinning reels with a braid-to-fluorocarbon leader.
—Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 9 May 2024
The podcaster shared a reel with all the fun, which included a boat ride, clear waters, blue skies, and plenty of cocktails.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 6 May 2024
Rian artfully creates reels, videos, and photographs that highlight his classmates and our Viking teams.
—Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 3 May 2024
Still, Tate grabbed their fishing rods, reels, tackle boxes and other equipment, before throwing the equipment into the woods and damaging them.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 2 May 2024
Newport Landing Whale Watching, the tour company that led the whale-watching excursion, shared a Facebook reel on Monday that showed the creature swimming with a pod of several other orcas.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 1 May 2024
How many people from TikTok or Instagram reels are even making it as a stand-up comedian?
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near reel
Cite this Entry
“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reel. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reel
1 of 5 noun1
a
: a device that can be turned round and round and on which something flexible is wound
b
: a device which is set on the handle of a fishing pole and used for winding up or letting out the line
c
: a narrow spool with a rim used to guide photographic film or magnetic tape
2
: a quantity of something wound on a reel
3
: a frame for drying clothes
reel
2 of 5 verb1
: to wind on or as if on a reel
2
: to pull (as a fish) by reeling a line
3
: to wind or turn a reel
reeler
noun
reel
3 of 5 verb1
a
: to whirl around
reeling in a dance
b
: to be in a whirl
heads reeling with excitement
2
: to fall back (as from a blow)
3
: to walk or move unsteadily
reel
4 of 5 noun
: a reeling motion
reel
5 of 5 noun
: a lively dance originally of the Scottish Highlands
also
: the music for this dance
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