He lurched from side to side because he was drunk. She reeled from the ghost in horror because she was terrified..

A dictionary can not always answer questions like these. There are many nuances to overcome when learning a new language. Mary, the words "lurch" and "reel" are not used too terribly often. I rarely hear them and never use them. So I would not be able to offer much more help than a dictionary. Sorry ^^;

These are sometimes used together in a sentence - "he lurched and reeled around the room". "Lurch" is a short, sharp, heavy movement forward. You don't get very far. "The car lurched forward, then the motor died." "Reel" has a turning movement - like a fishing reel, but also the Irish reel (a style of music) has a spinning/rotating feel about it. "Thoughts were reeling in my head."

Lurch and reel have the same meaning, and are synonyms. 1.an act or instance of swaying abruptly. 2.a sudden tip or roll to one side, as of a ship or a staggering person. 3.an awkward, swaying or staggering motion or gait.