reminisce

verb

Definition of reminiscenext
1
as in to remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ponder

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 On the latest episode of her Good Hang podcast, Poehler reminisced with guest Paul Rudd on the trio's time working on Parks, which Rudd guest-starred on for three seasons, Scott joined in season 2, and Poehler anchored as the series star throughout its seven-season run. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 May 2025 Who wants to pontificate about the place, let alone reminisce, when there’s an issue to close? —Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025 In between songs, Roth reminisced about Van Halen’s early days (and the origins of the song breakdowns in those sets) and, in a very Dave way, the Lieutenant Uhura character in the original Star Trek TV series. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025 Swamp Dogg reminisces about his singular career, which eventually gives way to some obligatory archival footage, but the film is just as interested in celebrating the zest for life that the octogenarian currently enjoys. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for reminisce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminisce
  1. remember
  2. ponder
  3. recall
  4. ruminate
  5. recollect
  6. contemplate
  7. analyze
  8. explore
Verb
  • Later on, when the argument began, the mother could not recall what the fight was about, but did remember Ward charging toward her twice — the second time with a knife and stabbing her multiple times.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
  • Shooting victim Sarah Milgrim remembered as 'a light' who fought antisemitism Israeli Embassy shooting: See the scene Real quick All American Rejects singer explains what's up with viral pop-up shows.
    — Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Definition of remember
Verb
  • California Democrats are now pondering the unthinkable.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 22 May 2025
  • The Sharks could have a lot to think about – or nothing to ponder at all.
    — Eric Stephens, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Definition of ponder
Verb
  • Reports of wood inside Dinty Moore Beef Stew led to Hormel Foods recalling the product Wednesday.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 29 May 2025
  • Woodward recalled, leading to changes that were enacted the next day.
    — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of recall
Verb
  • Times critic Swed ruminates on the possibility of Salonen playing a transitional role for a couple years while the search continues for a permanent successor.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
  • In severe depression and anxiety, there is often a cycle of ruminating negative thoughts.
    — David Oliver, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Definition of ruminate
Verb
  • The Roman Emperor Domitian struck a truce with the Dacians that allowed Rome to recollect its strengths until a new emperor, Trajan, was ready for war a decade later.
    — A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The hexane dissolves the lipid components in the oil, then is evaporated off and recollected for later use.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of recollect
Verb
  • Instead of a revolution, this new approach contemplated a middle way between capitalism and socialism, one premised on a cooperative relationship between workers and management.
    — Time, Time, 29 May 2025
  • Though the film doesn’t provide a satisfactory resolution to these threads, the time the audience spends contemplating them is mostly enjoyable.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 28 May 2025
Definition of contemplate
Verb
  • This includes the Dialogue Agent, which allows both data teams and non-technical users to interact with structured data through natural language queries, and the Explanation Agent, which analyzes query results and provides clear, summarized insights.
    — Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 27 May 2025
  • The 2009 study analyzed how honeybees are affected by low doses of cocaine.
    — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
Definition of analyze
Verb
  • This installation for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Cantor Roof Garden comprises four sculptural elements that explore the sonic and formal potential of simple stringed instruments.
    — Caitlin Woolsey, Artforum, 1 June 2025
  • An award-winning Palestinian American writer tackles subjects including home, displacement and gestation in this lyrical memoir that explores the trauma of fractured identity.
    — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
Definition of explore

Browse Nearby Words

reminds
reminisce
reminisce (about)
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Cite this Entry

“Reminisce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminisce. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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