reel off

verb

reeled off; reeling off; reels off
Synonyms of reel offnext

transitive verb

1
: to tell or recite readily and usually at length
reel off a few jokes to break the ice
2
: to chalk up usually as a series

Synonyms of reel off

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Examples of reel off in a Sentence

he's able to reel off the names of all the U.S. presidents, in historical order and without pausing her friend proceeded to reel off the roster of losers that she had dated over the years
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Phillies are also in playoff position after reeling off 10 losses in a row. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Iowa has reeled off at least eight wins all but one non-pandemic season since 2013. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 The Catalans then reeled off Ferran’s trophy haul at the Spotify Camp Nou, over a four and half season haul following his $63 million (€55 million) transfer from Manchester City in late 2021. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Over the weekend, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a highly influential figure in the Revolutionary Guards, reeled off a maximalist set of demands for reopening the strait. — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reel off

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reel off was in 1837

Rhymes for reel off

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Browse Nearby Words

reelingly
reel off
reel oven
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Cite this Entry

“Reel off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reel%20off. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

reel off

verb
: to tell or recite rapidly and easily
reeled off the right answers
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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