Word
reminiscent
Phoneticsrem·i·nis·cent
US/ˌɹɛməˈnɪsənt/
UK/ɹˌɛmɪnˈɪsənt/
Definitions
01reminding you of something
adj. making you think of something else because it is similar.
adj. tending to evoke memories or suggest a similarity to a previous experience, person, or object; typically used with the preposition 'of'.
“The smell of the ocean was reminiscent of his summer holidays as a child.”
“The building's curved glass facade is clearly reminiscent of the architect's earlier work in Chicago, though it incorporates more sustainable materials.”
Formal
Usage
Almost exclusively used in the pattern 'reminiscent of [something]'.
Pitfall
The song is reminiscent to my childhood.
The song is reminiscent of my childhood.
Always use the preposition 'of' after reminiscent, never 'to'.
Synonyms
02thinking about the past
adj. showing that you are thinking about past experiences with interest or pleasure.
adj. characterised by or prone to reminiscence; showing a tendency to recall past events.
“She had a reminiscent look in her eyes as she told stories about her old school.”
“The author adopts a reminiscent tone throughout the memoir, weaving together fragments of childhood memory with adult reflection.”
Literary · Formal
Teaching tip
This sense is less common than the 'reminding of' sense; it describes the person's mood rather than the object's qualities.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The giant 17-year-old centre-forward’s movement and power are reminiscent of Erling Haaland.” “It is an opening gesture reminiscent of an old-school diet club like the one her mother first took her to at the age of eight.” Etymology
From Latin reminīscēns, present participle of reminīscor (“remember”), from re- (“again”) + min-, base of me-min-isse (“to remember, think over”), akin to mens (“mind”); see mental, mind, etc.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/reminiscent