reminisce

verb

Definition of reminiscenext
1
as in to remember

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2
as in to ponder

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Dissimilar Words

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 Harp, who is raising his orphaned niece, Dell, after her mother is murdered, never reminisces with Dell about his sister; the Antidote and Cleo both do their best not to have meaningful conversations with anyone at all. —Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025 Tina also reminisced about Solange's teenage years and her constant creativity. —Marina Watts, People.com, 25 June 2025 Memories from 2024-25 After winning 44 regular-season games, the most since 2018-19 and the third most in franchise history, and advancing to the Calder Cup Finals, the Checkers faithful have plenty to reminisce on after Monday night’s season-ending loss. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2025 Eric Knight, 29, reminisced about his childhood years spent inside Cassell’s. —Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 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
  • And remember to tap into any loyal summer camp alumni (often a lifetime legacy).
    — Jill Tipograph, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • Just remember to eat a balanced diet, too—this is a supplement, after all!
    — Simon Hill, Wired News, 10 July 2025
Definition of remember
Verb
  • The Rafael Devers blockbuster is probably the biggest deal that will go down, but the temptation is there to ponder other earthshaking possibilities, no matter how remote.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • Viewing the team’s three-year stint here as an audition of sorts, officials have pondered if the local enthusiasm for baseball could help prove the Sacramento region as a welcome home for MLB.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2025
Definition of ponder
Verb
  • Since recalls generally fall under warranty coverage, these new concerns directly contribute to these costs.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Bardugo recalled the uproarious reaction to her first book, Ninth House, a bold tale following a Yale student that seeks to uncover the university's secret societies.
    — Rachel Raposas, People.com, 15 July 2025
Definition of recall
Verb
  • But Springsteen wasn’t spending all of his time ruminating.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 24 June 2025
  • The latest one sees Gi-hun wrecked with guilt and ruminating on the grisly games he's found himself in on two separate occasions.
    — Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Definition of ruminate
Verb
  • Wright was speaking at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival and recollected her battle for equal pay on the Netflix hit.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 16 June 2025
  • Such contracts are nothing new in Hollywood, and many scholars of classic Hollywood will likely recollect the strict contracts studios had for their stars in that era.
    — Clement Obropta, IndieWire, 16 June 2025
Definition of recollect
Verb
  • The question of how to deal with the fracturing has scientists contemplating the best course of action.
    — Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2025
  • Levine Cava is reportedly contemplating $25 million in savings from the Parks budget, but the details aren’t known.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 July 2025
Definition of contemplate
Verb
  • The researchers’ proof-of-concept exploit was able to tamper with deep neural network models used in machine learning for things like autonomous driving, healthcare applications, and medical imaging for analyzing MRI scans.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2025
  • Intrigued, the team analyzed the DNA of the lizards from Dirgheswari Temple and looked closer at their physical features.
    — Aspen Pflughoeft July 14, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
Definition of analyze
Verb
  • At one point, nearly 30 alternatives were explored, and the county has narrowed the scope to six alternatives to design and construct highway improvements along the Crete-Monee Road corridor with various connections to IL-50 and IL-394, Kupkowski said.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
  • But internally, the foundation models team has come under scrutiny from new leadership, which is exploring the use of third-party models, including from either OpenAI or Anthropic, to power a new version of Siri.
    — Mark Gurman, Fortune, 7 July 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 19 Jul. 2025.

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