reminiscing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to informal; common in spoken and personal written language.
Quick answer
What does “reminiscing” mean?
The process of indulging in enjoyable recollection of past events.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process of indulging in enjoyable recollection of past events.
Verbally or mentally recalling and often sharing memories, typically with a nostalgic, sentimental, or reflective tone. Can be a solo or social activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Equally positive/nostalgic in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English corpora, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “reminiscing” in a Sentence
reminisce about + NOUN PHRASE (e.g., 'reminiscing about school')reminisce over + NOUN PHRASE (e.g., 'reminiscing over old letters')reminisce with + PERSON (e.g., 'reminiscing with my sister')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reminiscing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We sat in the pub for hours, reminiscing about our university days.
- My grandfather loves to reminisce about his national service.
American English
- They spent the whole BBQ reminiscing about high school.
- Let's not just reminisce; we need to plan for the future.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare; not standard usage. No natural examples.)
American English
- (Extremely rare; not standard usage. No natural examples.)
adjective
British English
- He had a reminiscing look in his eyes as he saw the old house.
- The reunion created a reminiscing mood among the attendees.
American English
- Her reminiscing tone made the story come alive.
- The photo album put him in a reminiscing state of mind.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in informal team-building contexts: 'The retiring manager spent his last speech reminiscing about the company's early days.'
Academic
Rare in hard sciences; used in historical, biographical, or sociological contexts discussing memory or narrative.
Everyday
Very common for talking about past shared experiences with friends/family.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reminiscing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “reminiscing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reminiscing”
- Using it transitively without 'about/over' (e.g., INCORRECT: 'We were reminiscing our childhood').
- Confusing it with 'remembering' in contexts that lack the nostalgic/pleasurable reflection.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, yes. It implies a pleasant, often sentimental, recall of the past. While you can reminisce about bittersweet things, the activity itself is generally positive.
'Remembering' is the broad, neutral act of recalling any information. 'Reminiscing' is a specific type of remembering focused on past experiences, done reflectively and often for enjoyment, usually involving detailed stories or feelings.
Yes. The gerund 'reminiscing' functions as a noun (e.g., 'The reminiscing went on for hours'). However, the more common noun form is 'reminiscence' (often plural: 'reminiscences').
Almost always. 'Reminisce' is an intransitive verb. You reminisce *about* or *over* something. In very rare, poetic use it can stand alone (e.g., 'He sat by the window, reminiscing'), but the object of memory is still implied.
The process of indulging in enjoyable recollection of past events.
Reminiscing is usually neutral to informal; common in spoken and personal written language. in register.
Reminiscing: in British English it is pronounced /ˌrɛmɪˈnɪsɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɛməˈnɪsɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take a trip down memory lane”
- “Walk down memory lane”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
REM IN IS SINGing → When you REMember what was IN your life, you might feel like SINGing about the good old days.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PAST IS A PLACE YOU VISIT (e.g., 'taking a trip down memory lane').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'reminiscing' CORRECTLY?