Meaning & use
Reeled
Last updated
Staggered or swayed unsteadily, as if about to fall, often from a shock, blow, or dizziness.
See it in a sentence
He reeled backward when the punch connected with his jaw.
The company reeled from the sudden loss of its biggest client.
A note on using this word
Reeled is often used figuratively, as in an organization "reeling" from bad news, extending the physical image of stumbling to emotional or financial shock.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
steadied
Another way to use it
2. verb
Wound thread, film, or line onto a reel, or pulled something in using a reel.
She reeled in the fish after a ten-minute fight.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Reeled”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.