reminisce

verb rem·i·nisce \ˌre-mə-ˈnis\

: to talk, think, or write about things that happened in the past

rem·i·niscedrem·i·nisc·ing

Full Definition of REMINISCE

intransitive verb

: to indulge in reminiscence

— rem·i·nis·cer \-ˈni-sər\ noun

See reminisce defined for English-language learners

See reminisce defined for kids

Examples of REMINISCE

Ray pauses to point out the Whisky a Go Go, on Sunset Boulevard, and reminisces about the night Elvis Presley went there to see the Kinks play. —David Wild, Rolling Stone, 13 May 1993
When relatives reminisce about my great-grandfather, they almost always precede it with some reference to his affection for me. —Donna Tartt, Harper's, July 1992
We had apple fritters, roast chicken, an enormous lunch, with Mrs. Truman talkative, easy, and the President reminiscing and telling jokes. —Lady Bird Johnson, 2 Sept. 1965,A White House Diary, 1970
[+]more [-]hide

Origin of REMINISCE

back-formation from reminiscence

First Known Use: 1829

Synonym Discussion of REMINISCE

remember, recollect, recall, remind, reminisce mean to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind. remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled <remembers that day as though it were yesterday>. recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered <as near as I can recollect>. recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech <can't recall the words of the song>. remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity <that reminds me of a story>. reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone <old college friends like to reminisce>.