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
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
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Hudson was noticeably absent from the reel, which played midway through the finals.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 12 May 2025
USA Today, 17 May 2025
Just last year, after all, a pair of the company’s comedies grossed more than $1 million domestically — an impressive take in a country still reeling from the ongoing Russian invasion and war.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for reel
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Noun
Clocking up six million views, Sigurdson's reel has drawn mixed reactions online, with hundreds of comments of support and criticism.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Hudson was noticeably absent from the reel, which played midway through the finals.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 12 May 2025
Verb
But the terms under discussion then, when Ukraine was still reeling from Russia's initial invasion, would be deeply disadvantageous to Kyiv.
—USA Today, 17 May 2025
Just last year, after all, a pair of the company’s comedies grossed more than $1 million domestically — an impressive take in a country still reeling from the ongoing Russian invasion and war.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for reel
Cite this Entry
“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reel. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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
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