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 Still the Place, the actress joined costars Daphne Zuniga, Laura Leighton and Courtney Thorne-Smith to reminisce about her time on the hit ’90s primetime soap. John Russell, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025 Grandparents reminiscing with grandchildren, parents divulging their own upbringing – these exchanges allow children to gain perspective. Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 Kirke uses self-deprecation and tenderness to reminisce in her writing on the ways her childhood shaped her and her famous sisters (Jemima became an actress best known for her role on Girls; Domino is a singer turned doula and is married to actor Penn Badgley). Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2025 Weeks after Ryan O'Neil's home was destroyed in the LA fires, his son, Patrick O'Neil, is reminiscing about the sentimental memories made at the beachfront home in Malibu. Fox News, 1 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for reminisce 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • However, think important to remember, General Kellogg, who's the Trump administration special envoy for Ukraine, is going to be in Ukraine next week.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2025
  • What’s important to remember is just how much evidence exists indicating that buprenorphine can help people with opioid addiction.
    Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • For centuries since, people have pondered why Jesus was killed.
    Lynne Silva-Breen, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Arteta pondered that thoughtfully after yesterday’s win.
    Amy Lawrence, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The company last year issued a profit warning after it was hit by sliding sales in China and forced to recall 1.5 million vehicles due to potentially faulty brake systems developed by Continental.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Neighbors recalled the girl as cheerful and her parents as loving.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Endings are invitations to ruminate, but not every ending has to be apocalyptic.
    Arthur Krystal, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Presence, like much of the director’s recent work, is less an entrée than a charming apéritif, albeit with a couple of smart twists worth ruminating on.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The Magic forward had no choice but to recollect the ball, turn the other direction, back into Markkanen and then complete the full rotation with a floating jump shot roughly six feet from the rim.
    Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2025
  • Lord knows there are more than enough movies and books and memes and music to recollect.
    Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Chaska High School’s 1936 baseball team has already booked two games with Jordan High and is contemplating contests with Saint Louis Park and New Prague, coach Albert Mooney said Monday.
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • As a dad to two boys, taking a moment to contemplate the scope of the job can be a bit overwhelming for me.
    DeVonne Goode, Parents, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Roughly 4 million people, or 2.5% of U.S. workers, were tipped in 2023, according to Yale University’s Budget Lab, a nonpartisan policy research center that analyzes federal policy proposals regarding the U.S. economy.
    Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
  • This article was generated by the Kansas City Star Bot, artificial intelligence software that analyzes structured information from TomTom and applies it to templates created by journalists in the newsroom.
    Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Or someone exploring their sexuality for the first time may want a judgment-free space provided by a practitioner who’s got lots of experience working with LGBTQ+ clients.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 11 Feb. 2025
  • This documentary offers an intimate portrait of renowned choreographer and visual artist Dimitris Papaioannou, exploring his creative process.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near reminisce

Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on reminisce

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