What does "ree" mean?
Alternative form of rei (“Portuguese real”).
Ree
/ɹiː/ adj, name, noun, verb
adj, name, noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Alternative form of rei (“Portuguese real”).
- Grammar: ree is listed as adj, name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: drunk, merry, river, squiffy.
- Usage evidence: "I saw,", says I, "he was a ree-brained divell, but thought nothing of it, as all the British are so when they come abroad."
How to use "ree"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ree" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ree" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ree" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ree" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ree" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "drunk" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ree", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Alternative form of rei (“Portuguese real”). alt-of, alternative
- 2 A state of befuddlement; intoxication. dialectal
- 3 A small river or stream. Essex, dialectal, obsolete
"The church of this pariſh, vulgarly called St. Mary Overy, from its dedication to the virgin Mary, and ſituation over the Ree or river, in reſpect of London, is a ſtately Gothic ſtructure, in the form of a cathedral."
- 4 A period of stormy or unsettled weather, especially one occurring somewhat predictably at a particular time of year. Scotland, Shetland, especially
"To my surprise he took our caustic remarks about the climate very calmly, even cheerfully. "Och, man, it's only the Beltane ree," he said with a lively twinkle, enjoying our bewilderment. Evidently, the Shetland weather was merely putting on a scheduled performance and he for one was very well satisfied with its achievement - but the Beltane ree . . . ?"
- 5 Initialism of rare earth element. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
"REE-bearing minerals in these occurrences are allanite, betafite, brannerite, davidite, euxenite, fergusonite, florencite, monazite, polycrase, samarskite, synchysite, thorite, xenotime and yttrocrasite."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A state of great excitement or frenzy. dialectal
Verb
- 1 To become extremely excited; fly into a rage. dialectal, intransitive
- 2 To riddle; to sift; to separate or throw off. UK, dialectal, obsolete
"After it is well rubbed and winnowed, you must then Ree it over in a fine Sieve , and if any of the Malt be uncleansed , then rub it again into the Sieve , 'till it be pure , and the rubbings will ariſe on the Top of the Sieve"
- 3 To drive into a state of excitement; fire with enthusiasm. dialectal, transitive
Adjective
- 1 Wild; fierce; outrageous; overexcited; frenzied; delirious; crazy. dialectal
""I saw,", says I, "he was a ree-brained divell, but thought nothing of it, as all the British are so when they come abroad.""
- 2 Befuddled with liquor; half-drunk; tipsy. dialectal
"One of the witnesses speaks of having seen this sober judge "upon the bench, when he appeared to be ree, and as if he had been drunk the night before.""
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
""I saw,", says I, "he was a ree-brained divell, but thought nothing of it, as all the British are so when they come abroad.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ree"?
Common synonyms include: drunk, merry, river, squiffy.
How do you use "ree" in a sentence?
"I saw,", says I, "he was a ree-brained divell, but thought nothing of it, as all the British are so when they come abroad."
How do you pronounce "ree"?
Pronounced /ɹiː/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English rei, reh, reoh, from Old English hrēoh (“rough, fierce, wild, angry, disturbed, troubled, stormy, tempestuous”), from Proto-Germanic *hreuhaz (“bad, wild”), from Proto-Indo-European *krewh₂- (“raw meat, fresh blood”). Cognate with Scots ree, rae, ray (“ree”), Old Saxon hrē (“evil, bad, angry”), Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌷𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (inrauhtjan, “to become angry, rage against”). Related to Old English hrēaw (“raw, uncooked”). More at raw.
Etymology 2
Compare riddle (“a sieve”).
Etymology 3
Of obscure origin. Perhaps from a rebracketing of ea with Old English þære, i.e. þære ēa becoming the ree. Alternatively, perhaps a variant (like rye, found in the placename Rye) of rith.
Etymology 4
From Old Norse hríð (“storm”), whence also Norwegian Nynorsk ri (“period with harsh weather”).
Etymology 5
* As an English and Scottish surname, variant of Rea, Ray. * As a Norwegian surname, from the name of several farmsteads, from an obsolete Old Norse word meaning "gravelly ridge." * As a Korean surname, variant of Ri, itself a variant of Yi.