- (transitive, adverb) to recite or write fluently and without apparent effort
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
reel off vb
reel1 /ril/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
v.
reel2 /ril/USA pronunciation v.
reel3 /ril/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- 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.
- an amount of something wound on a reel:a reel of film.
- British Termsa spool of sewing thread.
v.
- to wind on a reel:[~ + object]to reel the film.
- 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.
- 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]
- to sway, rock, or appear to move unsteadily.
- 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. - to have a sensation of whirling:His brain reeled.
reel3 /ril/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
- Music and Dancea lively Scottish dance.
reel1
(rēl),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
reel′a•ble, adj.
reel2 (rēl),USA pronunciation v.i.
v.t.
n.
reel3 (rēl),USA pronunciation n.
- a cylinder, frame, or other device that turns on an axis and is used to wind up or pay out something.
- a rotatory device attached to a fishing rod at the butt, for winding up or letting out the line.
- 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.
- a quantity of something wound on a reel.
- British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]a spool of sewing thread;
a roller or bobbin of sewing thread. - off the reel:
- without pause;
continuously. - without delay or hesitation;
immediately. Also, right off the reel.
- without pause;
v.t.
- to wind on a reel, as thread, yarn, etc.
- Textilesto unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon.
- to pull or draw by winding a line on a reel:to reel a fish in.
- 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
reel2 (rēl),USA pronunciation v.i.
- to sway or rock under a blow, shock, etc.:The boxer reeled and fell.
- to waver or fall back:The troops reeled and then ran.
- Pathologyto sway about in standing or walking, as from dizziness, intoxication, etc.;
stagger. - to turn round and round;
whirl. - to have a sensation of whirling:His brain reeled.
v.t.
- to cause to reel.
n.
- 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.
- Music and Dancea lively Scottish dance.
- Music and DanceSee Virginia reel.
- Music and Dancemusic for either of these dances.
- special use of reel2 1575–85
'reel off' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):