reminiscing

American  

[rem-uh-nis-ing] / ˌrɛm əˈnɪs ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of recalling past experiences or events, especially with pleasure or nostalgia.

   The benefits of reminiscing are widely recognized as having a positive effect on the emotional well-being of elderly people.

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adjective

1. engaged in or expressing such recollection.

   The reminiscing narrator sprinkles the narrative with self-conscious comments like "I remember" or "Funny, the things you remember."

Etymology

Origin of reminiscing

First recorded in 1865–70; reminisc(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ for the noun; reminisc(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² for the adjective

Example Sentences

In 1972, filmmaker William Greaves reconvened a group of artists and luminaries from the Harlem Renaissance including musicians, playwrights, poets and scholars at Duke Ellington’s townhouse for an afternoon of reminiscing and rumination.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026

It was the kind of trip that settles into your bones, the sort you know you’ll be reminiscing about years from now.

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026

It will be a completely new festive experience for her, and while she and the bride will spend time reminiscing about their childhoods in Cardiff, she admits a "dark cloud" hangs over her home city.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

He catches a screening of “Night of the Hunter,” reminiscing about his father taking him to see the film in the middle of the school day.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025

We spent some time reminiscing about various persons from the past, or else exchanging any news we had concerning them, and this was, I must say, most enjoyable.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro