Meaning & use
reeling
Last updated
Staggering or stumbling, especially as a result of shock, dizziness, or a blow.
See it in a sentence
The boxer was reeling after the unexpected hit to the jaw.
The company was still reeling from the scandal months after it broke.
A note on using this word
Reeling is frequently used figuratively, as in 'reeling from the news,' to describe emotional shock rather than physical loss of balance.
Words with a similar meaning
staggeringstumbling
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
steadying
Another way to use it
2. verb
Winding thread, film, or line onto or from a reel.
He kept reeling in the fishing line until the catch broke the surface.
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