What does "reminiscence" mean?
An act of remembering long-past experiences, especially positive or pleasant ones, often fondly.
Reminiscence
/ˌɹɛm.əˈnɪs.əns/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An act of remembering long-past experiences, especially positive or pleasant ones, often fondly.
- Grammar: reminiscence is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: recollection, recall, anamnesis, anecdotes.
- Useful contrasts: amnesia, disregard for the past, fiction.
- Usage evidence: Here was my chance. I took the old man aside, and two or three glasses of Old Crow launched him into reminiscence.
How to use "reminiscence"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "reminiscence" 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 "reminiscence" 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 "reminiscence" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "reminiscence" 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 "reminiscence" is acting as noun 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 "recollection" 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.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "reminiscence", 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 An act of remembering long-past experiences, especially positive or pleasant ones, often fondly. countable, uncountable
"Here was my chance. I took the old man aside, and two or three glasses of Old Crow launched him into reminiscence."
- 2 the process of remembering (especially the process of recovering information by mental effort) wordnet
- 3 A mental image thus remembered. countable, uncountable
"Fogel, working with a script by the journalist Kerry Howley, follows Winner from the age of nine to the aftermath of her plea, and organizes the movie around voice-over reminiscences by Reality (the character is played by Emilia Jones)."
- 4 a mental impression retained and recalled from the past wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Here was my chance. I took the old man aside, and two or three glasses of Old Crow launched him into reminiscence."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "reminiscence"?
Common synonyms include: recollection, recall, anamnesis, anecdotes, commitment to memory, exercise of memory.
How do you use "reminiscence" in a sentence?
Here was my chance. I took the old man aside, and two or three glasses of Old Crow launched him into reminiscence.
How do you pronounce "reminiscence"?
Pronounced /ˌɹɛm.əˈnɪs.əns/.
Etymology
From Late Latin reminīscentiae (“remembrances”), from Latin reminīscēns, present active participle of reminīscor (“remember”); see reminiscent.