1 C1 neutral
to wind line, wire, film, or similar material onto a reel
"After the shoot, they reeled up the extension cable."
separable
reel up
C1 neutral separable transitive
to wind something onto a reel or spool
In plain English
to wind a line or wire up into a neat roll
What does "reel up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to wind something up onto a reel
Actually means
to wind a line or wire up into a neat roll
Usage tip
This is a fairly rare and literal expression, often used for line, hose, film, or cable. 'Reel in' is usually more common for fishing.
Words that pair with "reel up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
line cable wire hose film thread
How to conjugate "reel up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
reel up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
reels up
he/she/it
Past simple
reeled up
yesterday
Past participle
reeled up
have + pp
-ing form
reeling up
continuous
Hear "reel up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "reel up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "reel up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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