reel

[ reel ]

/ ril /

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See synonyms for: reel / reeled / reeling on Thesaurus.com

noun

a cylinder, frame, or other device that turns on an axis and is used to wind up or pay out something.

a rotatory device attached to a fishing rod at the butt, for winding up or letting out the line.

Photography.

a spool on which film, especially motion-picture film, is wound.
a roll of motion-picture film.
a holder for roll film in a developing tank.

a quantity of something wound on a reel.

Chiefly British. a spool of sewing thread; a roller or bobbin of sewing thread.

verb (used with object)

to wind on a reel, as thread, yarn, etc.

to unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon.

to pull or draw by winding a line on a reel: to reel a fish in.

Verb Phrases

reel off, to say, write, or produce quickly and easily: The old sailor reeled off one story after another.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about reel

off the reel,

without pause; continuously.
without delay or hesitation; immediately.

Also right off the reel.

Origin of reel

First recorded before 1050; Middle English noun rel(e), Old English hrēol; rēol, cognate with Old Norse hræll “weaver's rod”; the verb is derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM reel

reel·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby reel

reeffish, reefing jacket, reef knot, reef point, reek, reel, re-elect, re-election, reeled silk, reeler, reel-fed

Other definitions for reel (2 of 3)

reel²

[ reel ]

/ ril /

verb (used without object)

to sway or rock under a blow, shock, etc.: The boxer reeled and fell.

to waver or fall back: The troops reeled and then ran.

to sway about in standing or walking, as from dizziness, intoxication, etc.; stagger.

to turn round and round; whirl.

to have a sensation of whirling: By the time we reached camp, my mind was reeling—there were so many incredible sights to take in!

to be in a state of shock, confusion, or disorder:The real-estate market is reeling from the compounding effects of oversupply, rising vacancy rates, and weak demand.

verb (used with object)

to cause to reel.

noun

an act of reeling; a reeling or staggering movement.

Origin of reel

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English relen, apparently derivative of rele “rod, reel” (see reel¹)

synonym study for reel

3. See stagger.

Other definitions for reel (3 of 3)

reel³

[ reel ]

/ ril /

noun

a lively Scottish dance.

Virginia reel.

music for either of these dances.

Origin of reel

First recorded in 1575–85; special use of reel²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use reel in a sentence

The men cutting the reel aren’t satisfied because they can’t figure out why Kane’s last word was “Rosebud,” and they send a reporter to go figure it out by interviewing Kane’s former friends and associates.
The tangled history behind David Fincher’s Mank — and its link to Citizen Kane — explained|Alissa Wilkinson|December 4, 2020|Vox
I compile a highlights reel featuring the moments in my life I hold most dear.
Every Thanksgiving, my mental health strategy is recalling memorable, personal moments|Bob Brody|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
Much like the early-pandemic hit The Last Dance, about Michael Jordan’s run with the Chicago Bulls, Rising Phoenix appeals as a nonstop highlight reel.
3 New Documentaries to Stream This Fall|Erin Berger|September 21, 2020|Outside Online
If you’re new to fishing, you can find inexpensive spinning rod combos, which come with both the rod and reel and are easy for beginners to use.
Three Family-Friendly Adventures to Try This Fall|Outside Editors|September 17, 2020|Outside Online

Like the TikTok “For You Page,” the emphasis of Reels is to discover new content and users — including those owned by businesses — can opt to share their reel with the wider Instagram audience.
‘Building up a community first’: Instagram Reels has little on offer for advertisers — for now|Lara O'Reilly|August 6, 2020|Digiday
Boyhood is like watching a twelve season television series reduced to a three-hour highlight reel.
Black 'Boyhood' Is Always Black First, Boy Later|Teo Bugbee|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No one was harmed during the filming, but judging by the blooper reel at the end, there were a lot of respawns.
Viral Video of the Day: Terminator 2, Grand Theft Auto V Style|Alex Chancey|June 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On March 26, Bieber debuted one of the greatest hits on his scandal reel.
Justin Bieber’s No Good, Very Bad Year: Alleged Prostitutes, Reckless Driving, and More|Amy Zimmerman|December 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It is, on the other hand, a sizzle reel of quotable dialogue.
‘Girls’ Season 3 Trailer Debuts. Is It the Most Relatable Yet?|Kevin Fallon|November 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Reel retraces his life and work with the spirit of curiosity and adventure that drove du Chaillu in the first place.
This Week’s Hot Reads: March 11, 2013|Mythili Rao|March 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I've always hed a reel mean feelin' about 'em; I didn't want ter come nigh 'em, nor ter hev 'em come nigh me.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
The carnage was awful, and the charging columns halted, staggered, and then began to reel back.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
A drunken man would reel from one side to the other until he fell down a cellar trap-door, into the gutter, or into the sea.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
Lawrence saw one of his men reel and then fall forward, clutching his horse's neck.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
The finished product is delivered to a belt-driven coiling reel on which it is wound.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various

British Dictionary definitions for reel (1 of 3)

reel¹

/ (riːl, rɪəl) /

noun

any of various cylindrical objects or frames that turn on an axis and onto which film, magnetic tape, paper tape, wire, thread, etc, may be woundUS equivalent: spool

angling a device for winding, casting, etc, consisting of a revolving spool with a handle, attached to a fishing rod

a roll of celluloid exhibiting a sequence of photographs to be projected

verb (tr)

to wind (cotton, thread, etc) onto a reel

(foll by in, out etc) to wind or draw with a reelto reel in a fish

Derived forms of reel

reelable, adjectivereeler, noun

Word Origin for reel

Old English hrēol; related to Old Norse hrǣll weaver's rod, Greek krekein to weave

British Dictionary definitions for reel (2 of 3)

reel²

/ (riːl, rɪəl) /

verb (mainly intr)

to sway, esp under the shock of a blow or through dizziness or drunkenness

to whirl about or have the feeling of whirling abouthis brain reeled

noun

a staggering or swaying motion or sensation

Word Origin for reel

C14 relen, probably from reel 1

British Dictionary definitions for reel (3 of 3)

reel³

/ (riːl, rɪəl) /

noun

any of various lively Scottish dances, such as the eightsome reel and foursome reel for a fixed number of couples who combine in square and circular formations

a piece of music having eight quavers to the bar composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

Word Origin for reel

C18: from reel ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

reel

Idioms about reel

Origin of reel

OTHER WORDS FROM reel

Words nearby reel

Other definitions for reel (2 of 3)

Origin of reel

synonym study for reel

Other definitions for reel (3 of 3)

Origin of reel

Words related to reel

How to use reel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reel (1 of 3)

Derived forms of reel

Word Origin for reel

British Dictionary definitions for reel (2 of 3)

Word Origin for reel

British Dictionary definitions for reel (3 of 3)

Word Origin for reel