to reel
26
4.3
- verb
- /ril/
- The intense news left her reeling, unsure of how to process the information.
- begin to reel
- reeled off balance
Examples
-
From page one, Beck McDowell reels you in and keeps you hooked for the next 200 pages.
Blog text (28) -
Were I the Yanks, if they're considering Hamilton, I'd reel in Melky, too.
Blog text (13) -
Without knowing how it had come about, he found he had let go and fallen, reeling to one knee.
Fiction book (2001) -
Outside the window, several pigeons reeled in flight.
Fiction book (1999) -
And the whole Earth reeled and it rocked and rolled a little.
-
When she stepped from the roundabout to the dirt, she lost her balance and reeled dizzily for an instant.
Fiction book (1999) -
Anna lunges up to Minerva and pulls her forward for a savage head-butt, which sends her reeling to the ground.
Fiction book (1991) -
After he fainted, he reeled a bit before he collapsed to the ground.
-
He took a few steps back as the roller coaster came down, feeling dizzy and reeling from the thrill.
Synonyms
578
1.0
To make something turn around quickly
131
2.7
To move in a twisting or circular way
88
2.1
To turn your body quickly in a circle many times
16
2.6
To turn quickly in a circle or twist
12
6.9
Spin around in circles or spirals
11
3.7
To move quickly in a circle, often through the air
Antonyms
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
1
9.1
A country dance where two lines of couples face each other and do lively steps
How Fast
Surface Forms
Etymology
Reel meaning to spin or revolve quickly comes from the same image as the dance: to 'turn' or whirl around, so when you reel you physically spin or turn fast.