VOOZH about

URL: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/reel

⇱ reel - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

reel

Listen:
UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈriːəl/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ril/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(rēl)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
reel1 /ril/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a rounded object or cylinder or other device that spins and is used to wind up or let out wire, rope, film, etc.:a reel on a fishing rod; the reel on the movie projector.
  2. an amount of something wound on a reel:a reel of film.
  3. British Termsa spool of sewing thread.

v. 
  1. to wind on a reel:[~ + object]to reel the film.
  2. to pull by winding a line on a reel: [~ + object + in/out]to reel a fish in.[~ + in/out + object]to reel out some wire.
  3. reel off, to say or write quickly and easily, as a list of items: [~ + off + object]She reeled off her answers one by one.[~ + object + off]reeled her answers off.

reel2 /ril/USA pronunciation   v. 
    [no object]
  1. to sway, rock, or appear to move unsteadily.
  2. Pathologyto sway or move unsteadily or clumsily about in standing or walking, as from dizziness or drunkenness;
    stagger:The boxer was reeling from the blows.
  3. to have a sensation of whirling:His brain reeled.

reel3 /ril/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. Music and Dancea lively Scottish dance.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
reel1  (rēl),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a cylinder, frame, or other device that turns on an axis and is used to wind up or pay out something.
  2. a rotatory device attached to a fishing rod at the butt, for winding up or letting out the line.
  3. Photography
    • a spool on which film, esp. motion-picture film, is wound.
    • a roll of motion-picture film.
    • a holder for roll film in a developing tank.
  4. a quantity of something wound on a reel.
  5. British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]a spool of sewing thread;
    a roller or bobbin of sewing thread.
  6. off the reel:
    • without pause;
      continuously.
    • without delay or hesitation;
      immediately. Also, right off the reel. 

v.t. 
  1. to wind on a reel, as thread, yarn, etc.
  2. Textilesto unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon.
  3. to pull or draw by winding a line on a reel:to reel a fish in.
  4. reel off, to say, write, or produce quickly and easily:The old sailor reeled off one story after another.
  • bef. 1050; (noun, nominal) Middle English rele, Old English hrēol; cognate with Old Norse hræll weaver's rod; (verb, verbal) Middle English relen, derivative of rele
reel′a•ble, adj. 

reel2  (rēl),USA pronunciation v.i. 
  1. to sway or rock under a blow, shock, etc.:The boxer reeled and fell.
  2. to waver or fall back:The troops reeled and then ran.
  3. Pathologyto sway about in standing or walking, as from dizziness, intoxication, etc.;
    stagger.
  4. to turn round and round;
    whirl.
  5. to have a sensation of whirling:His brain reeled.

v.t. 
  1. to cause to reel.

n. 
  1. an act of reeling;
    a reeling or staggering movement.
  • Middle English relen, apparently derivative of rele reel1 1300–50
    3. See stagger. 
reel3  (rēl),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Music and Dancea lively Scottish dance.
  2. Music and DanceSee Virginia reel. 
  3. Music and Dancemusic for either of these dances.
  • special use of reel2 1575–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
reel /riːl; rɪəl/ n
  1. any of various cylindrical objects or frames that turn on an axis and onto which film, magnetic tape, paper tape, wire, thread, etc, may be woundUS equivalent: spool
  2. a device for winding, casting, etc, consisting of a revolving spool with a handle, attached to a fishing rod
 vb (transitive)
  1. to wind (cotton, thread, etc) onto a reel
  2. followed by in, out etc: to wind or draw with a reel: to reel in a fish
Etymology: Old English hrēol; related to Old Norse hrǣll weaver's rod, Greek krekein to weaveˈreelable adj ˈreeler n
reel /riːl; rɪəl/ vb (mainly intr)
  1. to sway, esp under the shock of a blow or through dizziness or drunkenness
  2. to whirl about or have the feeling of whirling about: her brain reeled
 n
  1. a staggering or swaying motion or sensation
Etymology: 14th Century relen, probably from reel1
reel /riːl; rɪəl/ n
  1. any of various lively Scottish dances, such as the eightsome reel and foursome reel, for a fixed number of couples who combine in square and circular formations
  2. a piece of music having eight quavers to the bar composed for or in the rhythm of this dance
Etymology: 18th Century: from reel2
'reel' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: a film reel, a reel of film, start the reel, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "reel" in the title:

(reel+ life)
A man cannot reel and spin at the same time
acting reel
but by the final reel, inspiration is often replaced by rote—or the smell of fear
Families continue to reel from the <fallout of> covid-19
has been our reel
How many grams is it per reel?
I kept writing one-reel horror movies
listen to the shouting buck and reel
Lurch vs falter vs totter vs teeter vs reel vs stagger vs waver (with regards to walking style)
make a reel of the shows
Now reel it in
pronunciation: green/grain - reel/real/rail
reel
Reel
reel
reel against
reel from
reel from its brilliance and insights
reel in business
reel in response
Reel in their threats from abstraction.
Reel in time
reel in/ lure in
Reel it in.
reel life
reel off
reel someone back in
reel thing in a bit
reel <which is / that is> filmed by you.
more...

Look up "reel" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "reel" at dictionary.com
  • Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!
Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.
Firefox users: use search shortcuts for the fastest search of WordReference.
Copyright © 2026 WordReference.com
Please report any problems.