muscle memory

noun

: 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

Examples of muscle memory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pokémon muscle memory will have experienced gamers take some time to pick a move and watch their partner execute it. Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025 Functionally, the keycaps are well-made and large, though your muscle memory may take some retraining since the spacing is different from a regular lattice keyboard. Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2025 And the Senate just doesn’t have that kind of muscle memory. Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2025 The squad has changed a lot in the last six months, so not as many players have the muscle memory of this fixture. Carl Anka, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for muscle memory

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of muscle memory was in 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Muscle memory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muscle%20memory. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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