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Definition of reel verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reel

verb
 
/riːl/
 
/riːl/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they reel
 
/riːl/
 
/riːl/
he / she / it reels
 
/riːlz/
 
/riːlz/
past simple reeled
 
/riːld/
 
/riːld/
past participle reeled
 
/riːld/
 
/riːld/
-ing form reeling
 
/ˈriːlɪŋ/
 
/ˈriːlɪŋ/
Phrasal Verbs
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  1. [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to move in a very unsteady way, for example because you are drunk or have been hit synonym stagger
    • I punched him on the chin, sending him reeling backwards.
    • She was reeling after several glasses of wine.
    • He reeled under the blow.
    Extra Examples
    • He reeled back against the wall.
    • She reeled away from us.
    • The blow sent him reeling backwards.
    • He was reeling now, clutching the table to stop himself from falling.
    • The pair went reeling along the street.
  2. [intransitive] reel (at/from/with something) to feel very shocked or upset about something
    • I was still reeling from the shock.
    Extra Examples
    • The country was still reeling from the earthquake.
    • I was reeling with shock.
    • My brain was still reeling under the impact of this news.
    • Her mind reeled at the possibilities.
  3. [intransitive] to seem to be turning round and round
    • When he opened his eyes, the room was reeling.
    • The mixture of sights and smells made her senses reel.
  4. Word OriginOld English hrēol, denoting a rotating device on which spun thread is wound; of unknown origin.
See reel in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
trait
noun
 
 
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