WordGarden.ioreel
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /rˈiːl/
US
- /ˈril/
Meanings
Noun
a short video made for or shared on a social media platform
a spool or cylinder used to wind and hold line, thread, film, tape, or wire
a lively folk dance or the music for it, especially in Scottish or Irish tradition
Verb
to stagger, sway, or spin unsteadily
to be shocked, overwhelmed, or thrown off balance emotionally or mentally
Beyond the definition
This word moves in a few different ways. It can name a round device that holds thread, wire, film, or fishing line, and it can also mean to wind something onto that device or pull something in with it. It also has a lively meaning: a reel is a quick folk dance, especially in Scotland and Ireland. And when a person is shocked, dizzy, or unsteady, they may reel, as if the world has started to spin.
The word "reel" has several related meanings, and most of them involve turning, winding, or losing balance. First, a reel can be a round device or frame used to hold and wind things such as thread, wire, tape, film, or fishing line. It can also be a verb: to reel something is to wind it onto such a device, and to reel something in is to pull it toward you, as when you catch a fish. By extension, people also use "reel in" in a figurative way for attracting, winning over, or drawing someone closer.
The word also belongs to music and dance. A reel is a lively folk dance, especially associated with Scotland and Ireland, usually done to quick music with repeated patterns of movement. In that sense, the word suggests turning, rhythm, and fast motion.
Another common meaning is about people, not objects. If someone reels, they stagger, sway, or seem unable to keep steady, often because they are dizzy, hurt, shocked, or overwhelmed. That is why people say someone is "reeling from the news" after a painful surprise. The word also appears in the phrase "reel off," which means to say many facts, names, or items quickly and smoothly, almost as if they are unwinding from a roll.
Whether it's a mechanical component, a joyful dance, or the sensation of being thrown off balance, "reel" speaks to the many ways things—and people—can spin, wind, and whirl.
Examples
- 1
Fishing equipment
She bought a new reel for her fishing rod.
- 2
Film storage
We found an old reel of film in my grandfather's attic.
- 3
Physical reaction
The boxer reeled backward after the punch.
- 4
Dizziness
I stood up too quickly, and the room seemed to reel.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Disaster impact
The country is still reeling from the storm.
- Patternreel from + event/problem
be badly affected by it
- 6
Fishing action
We reeled in the line slowly and waited for another bite.
- Patternreel in + object
pull it in by turning a reel
- 7
Attracting users
The new app has already reeled in millions of users.
- Patternreel in + people
attract or get them, often in large numbers
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- reelnounverb
Forms
- reelspluralnounverb
- reeling-ing formverbnoun
- reeledpast tenseverbnoun