reminisce

Synonym Chooser

How is the word reminisce distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of reminisce are recall, recollect, remember, and remind. While all these words mean "to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind," reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.

old college friends like to reminisce

In what contexts can recall take the place of reminisce?

The words recall and reminisce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.

can't recall the words of the song

Where would recollect be a reasonable alternative to reminisce?

The synonyms recollect and reminisce are sometimes interchangeable, but recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.

as near as I can recollect

When can remember be used instead of reminisce?

While in some cases nearly identical to reminisce, remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled.

remembers that day as though it were yesterday

When is remind a more appropriate choice than reminisce?

In some situations, the words remind and reminisce are roughly equivalent. However, remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.

that reminds me of a story

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reminisce Six years later, Bowlan can reminisce about it all. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025 Over breakfast Wednesday at Fox & Goose Public House, seven of the former lawmakers reunited to reminisce and trade war stories about working with — or against — legendary California politicians Willie Brown, John Burton, and others. Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Kevin and Auggie, mistaking Chris for their dimension’s Chris, sit down with him for a drink and begin to reminisce. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025 But why reassemble at least part of the group now, other than to reminisce about old times? R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reminisce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • Curry also remembered the future president being very eager for his then-girlfriend, Marla Maples, to be introduced to the film's director, Chris Columbus.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The all-star game itself was a mishmash of unguarded dunks and 3-pointers and no one remembers who won.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Entering his first full offseason, Seidler may want to ponder a comment made a few years ago by Peter Seidler, his late brother.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
  • In the book, Keaton reflected on modern standards of beauty, pondering the societal obsession with how things look.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Allen recalls meeting Keaton for the first time while auditioning actresses at the old Morosco Theatre for his play Play It Again, alongside the producer David Merrick.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
  • On a late-summer day, the 57-year-old Puerto Rican recalls his time at Escuela Libre de Música in San Juan with fondness.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • These include identifying specific stressors, breaking large problems into manageable steps, and taking concrete action rather than ruminating on difficulties.
    Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Nor is there much time to ruminate on how all this might relate to any relevant tensions between corporations and colonial enterprises today.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There were no dates recollected correctly.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Leonora liked to think of her life as calm of mind, all passion spent, or, more rarely, as emotion recollected in tranquillity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Judge Stanley Blumenfeld agreed to extend the trial date, originally contemplated for next August, to October 2026.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Before Microsoft changed its plans, Martin was contemplating a motion to delay the Village Board rezoning vote at least six months so village officials could gather more information.
    Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Scientists are advancing the use of muon scattering tomography to analyze nuclear fuel debris from the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Barry regularly meets with economists from major banks to analyze data and metrics related to consumer health and then translates those insights into action.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The researchers noted that torsional loading is not as strongly associated with injury risk as vertical loading, but future work may explore whether improved stroller design or posture cues could mitigate those twisting forces.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • While some diseases, like seasonal allergies, asthma, and autoimmune diseases, are known to cause eosinophilia, or an abnormally high number of these cells, the role of eosinophilia in chronic pain hasn’t been well explored.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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