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