remember

verb

re·​mem·​ber ri-ˈmem-bər 

remembered; remembering ri-ˈmem-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to bring to mind or think of again

remembers the old days

2

archaic

a

: bethink sense 1b

b

: remind

3

a

: to keep in mind for attention or consideration

remembers friends at Christmas

b

: reward

was remembered in the will

4

: to retain in the memory

remember the facts until the test is over

5

: to convey greetings from

remember me to her

6

: record, commemorate

intransitive verb

1

: to exercise or have the power of memory

2

: to have a recollection or remembrance

rememberability

ri-ˌmem-b(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

rememberable

ri-ˈmem-b(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

rememberer

ri-ˈmem-bər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• flash back (to)
• hark back (to)
• harken back (to)
• hearken back (to)
• mind [chiefly dialect]
• recall
• recollect
• reminisce (about)
• reproduce
• think (of)

Choose the Right Synonym for remember

remember, recollect, recall, remind, reminisce mean to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind.

remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled.

remembers that day as though it were yesterday

recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.

as near as I can recollect

recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.

can't recall the words of the song

remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.

that reminds me of a story

reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.

old college friends like to reminisce

Examples of remember in a Sentence

I remember my first day of school like it was yesterday.

Do you remember me? I used to work with you many years ago.

Remember when we went hiking last summer?

I remember telling him not to do it, but he did it anyway.

I remember what that felt like.

As far as I can remember, I've never been late to a meeting.

I couldn't remember how to spell her name.

I can't remember where I put that book.

I remembered that I had left my wallet at home.

What was it that I was going to ask him? I can't remember.

Recent Examples on the Web

Family, friends and members of the community gathered on Friday night at Kilbourn Reservoir Park in Milwaukee to remember and honor Sade Carleena Robinson. —Melissa Noel, Essence, 20 Apr. 2024

Shepard believes the holiday is absolutely relevant, and should be used as a day to remember the people who are still incarcerated for cannabis offenses. —Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2024

The actress shared photos of her and Buie Jr. preparing for prom and shared that the pair watched 'Five Night's at Freddy's' after the event McKenna Grace and Will Buie Jr. had a night to remember! —Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024

Just remember to choose the right resistance level for your bands, limit your reps, and use resistance bands for various muscle groups. —Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health, 19 Apr. 2024

The 12 students and a teacher killed in the Columbine High School shooting will be remembered Friday, April 19, 2024, in a vigil on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the tragedy. —Colleen Slevin, The Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2024

Wagner said Do’s legacy will outlast this controversy and that people will remember his leading role in clearing homeless encampments from riverbeds and the courthouse plaza. —Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

The Gamecocks will be remembered as outstanding champions. —Sean Gregory, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024

And nobody in the prolific prog-metal band can remember the last time all five musicians took part in an interview together. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English remembren, from Anglo-French remembrer, from Late Latin rememorari, from Latin re- + Late Latin memorari to be mindful of, from Latin memor mindful — more at memory

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing remember

• a day to remember
• for as long as one can remember
• remember me to

Kids Definition

remember

verb

re·​mem·​ber ri-ˈmem-bər 

remembered; remembering -b(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to bring to mind or think of again

remembers the old days

2

a

: to keep in mind for attention

remember friends at Christmas

b

: reward entry 1 sense 1

was remembered in the will

3

: to keep in the memory

remember the facts for the test

4

: to pass along greetings from

remember us to your family

rememberable

-b(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

rememberer

-bər-ər 

noun