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

The pair linked up on a video call arranged by the BBC, reminiscing about the Swap Shop appearance and catching up on the years since.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Former “Grey’s Anatomy” showrunner Krista Vernoff shared an Instagram post fondly reminiscing about when Dane returned to the set in 2021 to film a dream sequence featuring his character, who died in Season 9.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

There is a virtual crowd of female editors reminiscing and reflecting on Ms. Hillgrove and her work, and the fact that there was a celluloid ceiling in the film industry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

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

Lourdes begins reminiscing about the instant foods she made when she first came to New York.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García