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
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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 Establish nonnegotiable quality foundations (security, performance, testing) as muscle memory, then let teams improvise freely within those guardrails. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 My hand twitched toward the phone, muscle memory stronger than willpower. Maggie Downs, Oc Register, 9 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 30 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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