What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
reel
Example
The room was spinning, and I felt like I was going to reel over. [reel: verb]
Example
He reeled from the punch, trying to regain his balance. [reeled: past tense]
Example
She carefully wound the fishing line around the reel. [reel: noun]
sway
Example
The dancers swayed to the beat of the music. [swayed: past tense]
Example
She swayed her hips as she walked down the runway. [sway: verb]
Example
The politician had a lot of sway over his constituents. [sway: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sway is more commonly used than reel in everyday language. Sway is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while reel is less common and often has negative connotations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between reel and sway?
Both reel and sway are relatively informal words, but sway is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while reel is more limited in its usage and is typically reserved for informal or specialized contexts.
