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

Examples 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 Millennials and Gen Zers alike reminisced about snacking on all the things that were not really meant to be snacks at all: spoonfuls of sprinkles, ice cubes, cereal and, yes, even handfuls of grated cheese. Suzanne Hayes, Parents, 31 Oct. 2024 Frisco, now 25, hardly remembers a time when fast music wasn’t a part of his life, reminiscing about remixes from some of his favorite South Florida DJs, like DJ Gator Boots and DJ Showtime, the latter of whom is now Kodak Black’s official DJ. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2024 Creator Michael Lannan will be joined by cast members Jonathan Groff, Lauren Weedman, Frankie J. Alvarez, and more for a night reminiscing over the much-beloved and gone-too-soon HBO series and film. Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2024 Trump also reminisced about golfing with Palmer and said the rally would be more fun if the golfer (who died in 2016) could join him, taking it further than what politicians typically say about the famous golfer when visiting his hometown, the Associated Press reported. Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reminisce 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
Verb
  • Kai Ryssdal: So remember, this was ’85, ’86, the Evil Empire, right?
    Outside Online, Outside Online, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Charles led Remembrance Day commemorations in London on Sunday as the United Kingdom remembered British and Commonwealth service members who have lost their lives in conflicts.
    Hannah Peart, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The new album’s title track ponders the optimism of a postwar generation that saw itself as ushering in a golden age.
    Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Earlier in the episode, Stephen ponders the liberties Nancy took when writing The Perfect Stranger.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • According to The Korea Times, in July 2024 Beijing demanded that Pyongyang recall North Korean workers in China—numbered in the tens of thousands—so that China could comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2937, which called for the repatriation of North Korean laborers.
    Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Viewed from the rear three-quarter angle, the Vanquish recalls an arrow, drawn from its quiver and aimed at the target.
    Dan Carney, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Esham Smith's music is known for its intensity, which ruminates on subjects like death, drugs, and good and evil.
    Annalise Frank, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
  • The idea of home resonated even more throughout the pandemic, as the curatorial team invited contributors with vastly different practices to ruminate on this year’s theme.
    Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Those losses sank her into a morass of regret and substance use, which spurred a break from the industry to recollect.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Some might recollect that two of our last four presidents — George W. Bush and Donald Trump — claimed the White House despite losing the popular vote.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Their agreement contemplated alternative dispute mechanisms, including arbitration, to resolve any contractual conflict.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The alternative is a future too abhorrent for even the most dystopian imaginations at WIRED to contemplate.
    Katie Drummond, WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • But that has been analyzed and dismissed by almost every economist and trade group in the country to look at it.
    Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Nov. 2024
  • Anderson says that cloud cover for this eclipse is among the lowest he’s analyzed over the last 45 years.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Anderson / Prime Video Telling the Cross story through a TV series gives the producers more space to explore the world and the character.
    Ronda Racha Penrice, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
  • For those eager to explore more, Trellis also hosts monthly Flight Nights, featuring a $15 tasting of four wines.
    Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near reminisce

Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on reminisce

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