muscle memory

noun

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of muscle memory

: the ability to repeat a specific muscular movement with improved efficiency and accuracy that is acquired through practice and repetition

They practice their routines with mind-numbing repetitiveness, for hours and days, weeks and years, so that each spinning, twisting landing off the high bar becomes an act of muscle memory.
—E. M. Swift

Recent Examples of muscle memory from the Web

Engaging his other senses for things like the feel of the ball and the cadence of Schmidt's voice, Olson was able to build muscle memory through repetition.

— samantha bresnahan, CNN, "USC football player: 'OK, I'm blind ... Now let's deal with it'," 4 Apr. 2018
As in, a pushback against your muscle memory of operating at arm’s length.

— carolyn hax, Detroit Free Press, "Aunt craves connection with out-of-state nephew," 21 Mar. 2018
The idea was to make the act of pulling the trigger more automatic, to condition muscle memory.

— alex kingsbury, BostonGlobe.com, "The lesson of the ‘Broward Coward’," 23 Feb. 2018
The purpose is clear: Through repetition and the introduction of stressors, muscle memory is developed; in an actual combat scenario, reaction is almost instinctual.

— tyler bonin, The Atlantic, "Teachers Are Not Soldiers," 3 Mar. 2018
In athletes, additional sleep is connected to memory consolidation, Driggers said, the ability to both remember concepts and techniques taught during a workout and the physical muscle memory needed to master something like a baseball swing.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "How the Royals are using sports science to gain an advantage | The Kansas City Star," 21 Feb. 2018
Gay is a firm advocate for training teachers and school staff to handle a variety of emergencies so if crisis strikes, muscle memory kicks in.

— kantele franko, Time, "A Fire Alarm Sounds, Then Gunfire Erupts: Should You Stay or Flee?," 17 Feb. 2018
His muscle memory, his hand-eye coordination is really special.

— doug ferguson, Houston Chronicle, "Tony Romo to play PGA Tour event in Dominican Republic," 7 Feb. 2018
All those reps have created a safety blanket of muscle memory and turned her into a floor-spacing weapon ideal for this era of basketball, where three-point shooting is a necessity for teams with title-raising dreams.

— andrew greif, OregonLive.com, "How Oregon's Lexi Bando became one of college basketball's best shooters," 5 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'muscle memory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.