reels 1 of 2

plural of reel
as in wheels
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point she slipped and, after an out-of-control reel, fell on her backside

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reels

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of reel
1
as in spins
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around his mind reeled upon hearing the news that his employer had been indicted for fraud

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 reels
Noun
Highlight reels are dominated by exceptional athletes doing exceptional things. Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 Their desperate hope, their cruel denial still weigh on this nation’s soul 87 years later, though most Americans only caught glimpses of the doomed passengers through news reels. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026 The companion app is straightforward and also features an AI function to turn your videos into highlight reels ideal for social media or sharing. New Atlas, 24 June 2026 Shoppers can find deals on fishing equipment, including rods, reels, and tackle bags. Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 June 2026 Additionally, the app is testing ways that users can transfer cast reels from their phone onto their TV. Denise Petski, Deadline, 22 June 2026 Also new is a test run for users to cast reels from their phone onto their TV. Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026 As a teen growing up in the digital age, my son loved taking goofy pictures and creating reels for social media. Rebecca Treon, Parents, 18 June 2026 The man went behind the retail counter and ripped handfuls of lottery tickets out of the Michigan Lottery display case, unspooling them as though from reels of toilet paper. Paula Wethington, CBS News, 16 June 2026
Verb
As Venezuela reels from twin quakes that killed more than 2,295 people, acting leader Delcy Rodríguez mounts her first defense of the response. Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 This wrenches the chromosomes apart into two sets and reels them to opposite ends of the cytoplasm sea. Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 29 June 2026 After Saturday night’s shooting that left two dead, neighbors are voicing their frustrations — and fears — as the community reels from another shooting that has left two more teenagers dead. Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2026 There’s a lot to digest as the hockey world reels from the stunning Dylan Larkin news that came out Thursday, his trade request putting the Detroit Red Wings in an unenviable spot. Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 5 June 2026 As America reels from 9/11, something resonates within Franny and an unexpected tenderness begins to bloom. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 May 2026 As Hawaii reels from some of the worst flooding to hit the region in decades, one good Samaritan is taking to the waterways to paddle pets left behind to safety. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026 Chalamet then mimics opera singing before McConaughey reels him back in. Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026 As the nation reels from last week’s fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good, the stars at Sunday’s 83rd Golden Globe Awards used the red carpet to protest the government agency. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reels
Noun
  • To turn the rudder, six cadets must man three massive wheels made of wood and copper.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Apollo 3 will offer both bipedal and wheeled configurations, with wheels providing efficiency and regulatory compliance for initial industrial deployments, while bipedal versions target broader applications.
    John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Many Chicagoans will, of course, take a while to arrive at that level of trust when that wheel spins alone.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
  • Xavier Watts spins a football in his right hand and glues his eyes on the tablet resting in the hands of Jessie Bates III.
    Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
  • Like many Florida school districts, OCPS staggers start times to most efficiently use its school buses and drivers.
    Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Some plans also help cover routine maintenance, like oil changes and tire rotations.
    Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Steven Boyd, a union steward for SEIU Local 1000, said that agencies are relying on exemptions, delays, rotations and workarounds to make the mandate appear functional.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The film unhurriedly lurches from one markedly similar fight scene to the next, with only Skeletor’s occasional injections of ripe innuendo to liven them up a bit.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 June 2026
  • By the end, Noonan’s film stops feeling like a first date and starts to resemble the makings of a crime scene as his mood lurches toward something dangerous.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • While Garcia runs a steady takeout business, there are a handful of tables inside, with chili flakes in shakers and rolls of paper towel for napkins.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Few would begrudge Paraguay this recognition, but the skullduggery did produce eye-rolls and requires stronger officiating.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • The show weaves together AI, generative imagery, immersive audio and spatial narrative design, which organizers describe as producing a living, evolving environment.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • From the thorny starting point of an Apache raid on a Western homestead, Costner weaves a complex, multi-perspective tale that wrestles with the romance and realities of American colonialism and mythmaking.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Makar tested out his skating with some twirls at the end of the first and returned for the second.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 May 2026
  • The unconscious Moon twirls into your 12th House of Whispers, inviting gentle reflection and rest that helps your inner world reorganize.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reels. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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