reminisce
rem-uh-NIS
/ˌrem.ɪˈnɪs/
To indulge in enjoyable recollection of past events; to talk or think about past experiences fondly.
Implies a active, pleasurable, and often social act of looking back.
The story behind the word. A back-formation from 'reminiscence', coined in English during the early 19th century to create a dedicated verb for pleasant memory-sharing.
Word relationships
- recall: Recall is simple mental retrieval; reminisce involves emotional warmth and story-sharing.
- look back: Look back is neutral; reminisce specifically implies pleasure in past memories.
- ignore: Ignore means to disregard or pay no attention to the past.
Commonly confused with
- reminiscence: Reminisce is the verb action; reminiscence is the noun.
Word family
- reminiscence (noun): An account or act of remembering.
- reminiscent (adjective): Suggestive of something in the past.
Collocations
- reminisce about
- reminisce fondly
- gather to reminisce
Idioms & expressions
- talk about the good old days
Example sentences
- "We sat by the fireplace late into the night to reminisce about our college adventures." Reunion
- "Grandmother loves to reminisce about her early days working in the theater." Family gathering
Memory hook
REMINISCE = REMINding your SIS (sister) of childhood stories. Reminisce = Relive memories nicely.
When not to use
Do not use for dwelling on painful trauma or unpleasant memories.
Fun facts
- Psychologists find that reminiscing in old age significantly improves self-esteem and psychological well-being.
Related words
Explore more words
celebrate, commemorate, indulge, remembrance, memento, souvenir
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