1
: a place in which public records or historical materials (such as documents) are preserved
an archive of historical manuscripts
a film archive
also
: the material preserved
—often used in plural
reading through the archives
2
: a repository or collection especially of information
archived; archiving
: to file or collect in or as if in an archive
archive documents
archived tissue samples
Synonyms
Examples of archive in a Sentence
Verb
The organization was devoted to cataloging and archiving printed materials on the labor movement.
She archived her e-mail messages in a folder on her hard drive.
a collection of archived articles
Recent Examples on the Web
Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
The McNair family hopes to eventually work with an archive to showcase more of them them.
—Rebecca Griesbach | Rgriesbach@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2023
Rios began storing the newspapers’ negative archives at his home in 1977 when T-A editors decided to throw them out to make room for a newsroom expansion.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2023
That’s changed in recent years thanks to the Free Law Project, whose Recap service keeps its own free archive of these public documents.
—Adi Robertson, The Verge, 12 Sep. 2023
Vintage Chicago Tribune Weekly The Vintage Tribune newsletter is a deep dive into the Chicago Tribune's archives featuring photos and stories about the people, places and events that shape the city's past, present and future.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023
With the help of IndyStar archives, here's what happened in those Week 1s.
—Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Sep. 2023
When the show ended in March 1969, the photo went back in the archives—and has never been shown again until now.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2023
The claim: Speaker at WEF conference proposed adding COVID-19 vaccines to water supply
An Aug. 22 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows a woman talking about the COVID-19 pandemic and global access to water in front of a backdrop covered with the World Economic Forum's logo.
—Chris Mueller, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2023
Vogue, 11 Sep. 2023
Meetings also are archived for viewing later on YouTube.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2023
An effective sneaky post is simple: A user posts a photo like normal, then quickly archives the picture with the intent of unarchiving it days or weeks later.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2023
Despite potential challenges along the way, archiving the many faces of Mas is the ultimate mission.
—Wanna Thompson, refinery29.com, 28 Aug. 2023
Our fact-check sources: Internet Archive, archived July 14, The Source with Kaitlan Collins July 13, 2023
CNN, July 13, The Source with Kaitlan Collins
CNET Highlights, May 16, Watch Elon Musk at 2023 Tesla Shareholder Meeting (Full Presentation)
Thank you for supporting our journalism.
—Gabrielle Settles, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2023
Local, state, and national newspaper coverage of the response has been archived as well.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2023
Once owned by a former parent company of Billboard, Musician folded in 1999 and its rich content has never been archived online).
—Thom Duffy, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2023
Copies of sympathy cards that have already been archived are left on shelves at the library entrance for people to take.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2023
See More
Noun
More from Carolyn Hax From the archive: Groom wants to take her last name.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
The McNair family hopes to eventually work with an archive to showcase more of them them.
—Rebecca Griesbach | Rgriesbach@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2023
Rios began storing the newspapers’ negative archives at his home in 1977 when T-A editors decided to throw them out to make room for a newsroom expansion.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2023
That’s changed in recent years thanks to the Free Law Project, whose Recap service keeps its own free archive of these public documents.
—Adi Robertson, The Verge, 12 Sep. 2023
Vintage Chicago Tribune Weekly The Vintage Tribune newsletter is a deep dive into the Chicago Tribune's archives featuring photos and stories about the people, places and events that shape the city's past, present and future.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023
With the help of IndyStar archives, here's what happened in those Week 1s.
—Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Sep. 2023
When the show ended in March 1969, the photo went back in the archives—and has never been shown again until now.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2023
The claim: Speaker at WEF conference proposed adding COVID-19 vaccines to water supply
An Aug. 22 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows a woman talking about the COVID-19 pandemic and global access to water in front of a backdrop covered with the World Economic Forum's logo.
—Chris Mueller, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2023
Verb
Her son and his wife discover the artist’s work in an attic and begin archiving and documenting her life.
—Vogue, 11 Sep. 2023
Meetings also are archived for viewing later on YouTube.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2023
An effective sneaky post is simple: A user posts a photo like normal, then quickly archives the picture with the intent of unarchiving it days or weeks later.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2023
Despite potential challenges along the way, archiving the many faces of Mas is the ultimate mission.
—Wanna Thompson, refinery29.com, 28 Aug. 2023
Our fact-check sources: Internet Archive, archived July 14, The Source with Kaitlan Collins July 13, 2023
CNN, July 13, The Source with Kaitlan Collins
CNET Highlights, May 16, Watch Elon Musk at 2023 Tesla Shareholder Meeting (Full Presentation)
Thank you for supporting our journalism.
—Gabrielle Settles, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2023
Local, state, and national newspaper coverage of the response has been archived as well.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2023
Once owned by a former parent company of Billboard, Musician folded in 1999 and its rich content has never been archived online).
—Thom Duffy, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2023
Copies of sympathy cards that have already been archived are left on shelves at the library entrance for people to take.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'archive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
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Dictionary Entries Near archive
Cite this Entry
“Archive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archive. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
archive
1 of 2 noun
ar·chive
ˈär-ˌkīv 
1
: a place in which public records or historical documents are preserved
also
: the material preserved
—usually used in plural
2
: a collection of information
archive
2 of 2 verb
archived; archiving
: to file or collect in or as if in an archive
was archiving documents
More from Merriam-Webster on archive
Nglish: Translation of archive for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of archive for Arabic Speakers
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