reel

¹ American  

[reel] / ril /

noun

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

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

3. Photography.

   1. a spool on which film, especially motion-picture film, is wound.

   2. a roll of motion-picture film.

   3. a holder for roll film in a developing tank.

4. a quantity of something wound on a reel.

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

---

verb (used with object)

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

2. to unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon.

3. to pull or draw by winding a line on a reel.

   to reel a fish in.

verb phrase

1. reel off to say, write, or produce quickly and easily.

   The old sailor reeled off one story after another.

idioms

1. off the reel, Also right off the reel.

   1. without pause; continuously.

   2. without delay or hesitation; immediately.

reel ² American  

[reel] / ril /

verb (used without object)

1. to sway or rock under a blow, shock, etc..

   The boxer reeled and fell.

2. to waver or fall back.

   The troops reeled and then ran.

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

4. to turn round and round; whirl.

5. 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!

6. 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)

1. to cause to reel.

noun

1. an act of reeling; a reeling or staggering movement.

reel ³ American  

[reel] / ril /

noun

1. a lively Scottish dance.

2. Virginia reel.

3. music for either of these dances.

---

reel ¹ British  

/ riːl, rɪəl /

noun

1. US equivalent: spool.  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 wound

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

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

---

verb

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

2. to wind or draw with a reel

   to reel in a fish

reel ² British  

/ riːl, rɪəl /

verb

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

2. to whirl about or have the feeling of whirling about

   his brain reeled

---

noun

1. a staggering or swaying motion or sensation

reel ³ British  

/ riːl, rɪəl /

noun

1. 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

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

---

Related Words

See stagger.

Other Word Forms

• reelable adjective
• reeler noun

Etymology

Origin of reel¹

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

Origin of reel²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English relen, apparently derivative of rele “rod, reel” ( reel ¹ )

Origin of reel³

First recorded in 1575–85; special use of reel ²

Example Sentences

Kobe Bryant made highlight reel plays in 1996.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

To be considered, prospective nominees for each shortlisted film submitted a five-minute reel and a recorded Q&A to the Academy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

The Seagulls can reel Sunderland in and move above them in the table with a win but I don't think they will get one.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

War — particularly one involving nuclear-capable states in the Middle East — is not supposed to look like a highlight reel assembled by a 16-year-old editing gaming clips.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

I feel like I could cast a fishing line out into the sky and reel it in, tugging as it bobs through the currents of stars.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day

Related Words

• falter
• lurch
• shake
• stagger
• stumble
• teeter