1
: a revolvable device on which something flexible is wound: such as
a
: a small windlass at the butt of a fishing rod for the line
b
chiefly British
: a spool or bobbin for sewing thread
c
: a flanged spool for photographic film
especially
: one for movies
2
: a quantity of something wound on a reel
reeled; reeling; reels
: to turn a reel
reeled; reeling; reels
1
a
: to turn or move round and round
b
: to be in a whirl
2
: to behave in a violent disorderly manner
3
: to waver or fall back (as from a blow)
4
: to walk or move unsteadily
: to cause to reel
1
: a lively Scottish-Highland dance
also
: the music for this dance
2
Synonyms
Examples of reel in a Sentence
Verb (2)
his mind reeled upon hearing the news that his employer had been indicted for fraud
got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand
Noun (2)
she slipped and, after an out-of-control reel, fell on her backside
Recent Examples on the Web
Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
Prior to tipoff, the lights in the gym were dimmed and the jumbotron showed a highlight reel of VanDerveer’s time at Stanford, a montage that included her three national championships, as well as the 500th and 1000th victories.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Karen Bartunek, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2024
Cuba has been reeling from near catastrophic conditions.
—Carmen Sesin, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reel 
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.
Noun
Writer, musician, and comedian Elle Cordova’s viral reel about her phone theft in Barcelona proves thieves are opportunistic and bold.
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
Prior to tipoff, the lights in the gym were dimmed and the jumbotron showed a highlight reel of VanDerveer’s time at Stanford, a montage that included her three national championships, as well as the 500th and 1000th victories.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
Friends and family were reeling from the loss of Romeo Elias Alvarez on Wednesday.
—Karen Bartunek, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2024
Cuba has been reeling from near catastrophic conditions.
—Carmen Sesin, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reel
Dictionary Entries Near reel
Cite this Entry
“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reel. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reel
1 of 5 noun1
a
: a device that can be turned round and round and on which something flexible is wound
b
: a device which is set on the handle of a fishing pole and used for winding up or letting out the line
c
: a narrow spool with a rim used to guide photographic film or magnetic tape
2
: a quantity of something wound on a reel
3
: a frame for drying clothes
reel
2 of 5 verb1
: to wind on or as if on a reel
2
: to pull (as a fish) by reeling a line
3
: to wind or turn a reel
reeler
noun
reel
3 of 5 verb1
a
: to whirl around
reeling in a dance
b
: to be in a whirl
heads reeling with excitement
2
: to fall back (as from a blow)
3
: to walk or move unsteadily
reel
4 of 5 noun
: a reeling motion
reel
5 of 5 noun
: a lively dance originally of the Scottish Highlands
also
: the music for this dance
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share