reeling

American  

[ree-ling] / ˈri lɪŋ /

adjective

1. staggering or swaying; unable to walk straight because of a blow, intoxication, etc..

   It seemed as if a reeling, drunken giant had set the route for the race—it was so full of twists and turns.

2. in a state of mental or emotional shock; overwhelmed.

   As a reeling nation mourns its dead, investigators are trying to determine whether anyone was aware of the homicidal plan.

---

Etymology

Origin of reeling

reel ² ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

So from this perspective, I can see how someone reeling from a major loss might wish to feed scraps of data into a large language model and have it spit out a loved-one-shaped bot.

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

“Our entire family is reeling from this profound and sudden loss, and we are struggling to come to terms with a future without his bright spirit among us,” Torres wrote on the fundraiser.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Consumer inflation hit 7.3 percent in March, according to official data, but Pakistanis have been reeling from years of double-digit pandemic-era price increases, which hit a peak of 38 percent in May 2023.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

The chocolate industry is still reeling from wild swings in cocoa markets, after futures spiked to record highs in 2024 amid a supply squeeze and then experienced a major pullback.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

I’m reeling from the way he said: You're my son.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson