memorize

verb

mem·​o·​rize ˈme-mə-ˌrīz How to pronounce memorize (audio)
memorized; memorizing

transitive verb

: to commit to memory : learn by heart
memorizable adjective
memorizer noun

Examples of memorize in a Sentence

an actress memorizing her lines everyone has to memorize a poem for next week's class
Recent Examples on the Web Instead of memorizing or writing down instructions and notes during class, before the cellphone ban Hecker would watch students take photos of her board. The Enquirer, 21 Apr. 2024 Sheffer thinks history is more than just memorizing facts and old black-and-white photographs. Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024 Those qualities movingly paralleled Mr. Foley’s resolve in captivity, as conveyed later by fellow hostages who survived the experience, including one who memorized a nine-paragraph letter written by Mr. Foley to his family. Jasper Davidoff, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 Whether pacing your study, focusing on MCQs, or integrating study into your daily routine, the key is to stay disciplined, avoid burnout, and remember that understanding the material is more crucial than memorizing it. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024 One, recast the roles, and pray that the kids in the audience — who have by now seen every episode at least a dozen times, and memorized every intonation and cadence of both young actresses — don’t notice or care about the difference. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2024 Players had to memorize and place 12 names of the plaza's scultures and statues on a board map. Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024 The expert pilots who navigate massive ships in and out of Baltimore’s port must often maneuver with just 2 feet (0.6 meter) of clearance from the channel floor and memorize charts, currents and every other possible maritime variable. Nick Perry, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024 Memorizing to Survive The ability of chickadees to memorize thousands of locations a day comes in handy during winter; while other birds migrate during this time, chickadees do not. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'memorize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of memorize was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near memorize

Cite this Entry

“Memorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memorize. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

memorize

verb
mem·​o·​rize ˈmem-ə-ˌrīz How to pronounce memorize (audio)
memorized; memorizing
: to learn by heart
memorization noun

More from Merriam-Webster on memorize

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