# reeling

/ˈɹiɫɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈiːlɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reeling
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. shocked or confused

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling very shocked or upset because of a sudden event, making it hard to think clearly.

For teachers: experiencing profound cognitive or emotional disorientation following a sudden shock or revelation.

- The company was still reeling from the news that their CEO had resigned suddenly.
- The community was left reeling after the unexpected closure of the factory, which had been the town's primary employer for decades.

### 2. dizzy or staggering

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

moving or feeling as if you are about to fall over, often because of a physical blow or dizziness.

For teachers: suffering from physical instability or vertigo; moving unsteadily as if losing one's balance.

- He sent the boxer reeling across the ring with a powerful left hook.
- The hiker felt his head reeling from the altitude, forcing him to sit down until the world stopped spinning.

### 3. the act of winding

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the action of winding something onto a reel, like a fishing line or film.

For teachers: the process or motion of winding a flexible material onto a rotatable cylinder or hub.

- The slow reeling of the fishing line required a lot of patience.
- The automated reeling mechanism ensured that the high-tension cables were wound with uniform pressure to prevent structural fatigue.

## Examples

- The team is still reeling from their unexpected loss.
- The local community was left reeling after the sudden closure of the town's largest employer.
- Economies across the globe were reeling as the sudden collapse of the banking sector triggered a cascade of market devaluations and widespread panic.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.