reminisce
verb · noun
Simple meaning
To recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
rehmuhnisSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ɹɛməˈnɪs
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
intransitive
To recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically.
“The grandparents sat there, reminiscing all afternoon.”
intransitive
To talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories.
transitivechiefly india
To remember fondly; to reminisce about.
noun
informal
An act of reminiscence.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Frequency
- Rare
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: To recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically.
Used this way, reminisce is a common word that can pull warm or cold depending on the sentence. It suits reflective writing more than quick conversation.
“The grandparents sat there, reminiscing all afternoon.”
- Emotional tone
- Mixed
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Gentle
- How common
- Common
- Connotation
- Sentimental and reflective
- Usage feel
- Reflective and slightly elevated
Usage note
The same wording can read approvingly or critically, so the surrounding sentence has to make the intent clear.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Knowing “reminisce” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.