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

He shuffles through them, reminiscing about his parents, siblings and cousins.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Her new show finds the artist reminiscing about "what you would have done differently, what you regret" and, she added, what you would do differently "if you had another chance".

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

Seven Fishes is about reminiscing on the year while letting go of whatever you’d like to leave behind.

From Salon • Dec. 14, 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

Not long ago, when Tommy and I were reminiscing about all of this, he thought we’d never really believed in the notion, that it was a joke right from the start.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro