Standard Lemma guide

reminisce

noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /ˌɹɛm.əˈnɪs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R EH2 M AH0 N IH1 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An act of reminiscence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To remember fondly; to reminisce about.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: India, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

recall the past

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The grandparents sat there, reminiscing all afternoon

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: remember, think back

History

Etymology

Back-formation from reminiscence, from Latin reminīscēns, present participle of reminīscor (“to remember”).

Across languages

Translations

44 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 回憶 /回忆 (huíyì) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Chinese Mandarin: 追憶 /追忆 (zhuīyì) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Chinese Mandarin: 緬懷 /缅怀 (miǎnhuái) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Chinese Mandarin: 敘舊 /叙旧 (xùjiù) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Chinese Mandarin: 話舊 /话旧 (huàjiù) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Chinese Mandarin: 懷舊 /怀旧 (huáijiù) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Czech: vzpomínat — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Czech: vzpomenout — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Finnish: muistella — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • French: évoquer des réminiscences — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • French: se remémorer — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • German: in Erinnerungen schwelgen — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Greek: αναπολώ (anapoló) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Hindi: याद करना (yād karnā) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Hungarian: felidézi a múltat — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Hungarian: nosztalgiázik — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Italian: rammentare — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Italian: rievocare — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Italian: ricordare — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Korean: 추억하다 (chueokhada) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Norwegian: mimre — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Polish: wspominać — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Polish: wspomnieć — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Polish: powspominać — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Russian: вспомина́ть (vspominátʹ) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Russian: вспо́мнить (vspómnitʹ) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Scottish Gaelic: cuimhnich — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Spanish: rememorar — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Spanish: memorar (se de) — to recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically
  • Chinese Mandarin: 追憶 /追忆 (zhuīyì) — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Czech: vzpomínat — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Czech: vzpomenout — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Finnish: muistella — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Hungarian: emlékeiről mesél — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Italian: abbandonarsi ai ricordi — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Māori: kōmanawa — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Māori: maumahara — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Norwegian: mimre — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Polish: wspominać — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Polish: wspomnieć — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Polish: powspominać — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Russian: вспомина́ть (vspominátʹ) — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Russian: вспо́мнить (vspómnitʹ) — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
  • Scottish Gaelic: cuimhnich — to talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories