Definition of RECOLLECTION

Choose the Right Synonym for recollection

memory, remembrance, recollection, reminiscence mean the capacity for or the act of remembering, or the thing remembered. memory applies both to the power of remembering and to what is remembered. gifted with a remarkable memory that incident was now just a distant memory remembrance applies to the act of remembering or the fact of being remembered. any remembrance of his deceased wife was painful recollection adds an implication of consciously bringing back to mind often with some effort. after a moment's recollection he produced the name reminiscence suggests the recalling of usually pleasant incidents, experiences, or feelings from a remote past. my grandmother's reminiscences of her Iowa girlhood

Examples of recollection in a Sentence

Her recollection of the accident is very different from mine. She has only a vague recollection of her seventh birthday party. His novel is largely based on his own recollections of his childhood in the inner city.

Recent Examples on the Web Whereas Alcott traces their fates in a straight line, Gerwig (aided by the deft editing of Nick Houy and the musical stitching of Alexandre Desplat’s score) proceeds by association and recollection. — New York Times, "‘Little Women’ Review: This Movie Is Big," 23 Dec. 2019 Thus, these answers could be affected by subjective experience or poor recollection. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Pricing electricity by demand hits poor, elderly, disabled harder," 17 Dec. 2019 The most crucial point at which Yermak’s recollection contradicts the testimony of the inquiry’s witnesses relates to a meeting in Warsaw on Sept. 1, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. — Simon Shuster / Kyiv, Time, "Exclusive: Top Ukraine Official Andriy Yermak Casts Doubt on Key Impeachment Testimony," 10 Dec. 2019 Here, Tong offers other insights, recollections and advice from his esteemed career in the scene. — Katie Bain, Billboard, "20 Questions With Pete Tong: The Dance Icon on Chilling Out, Finding Hits & Why DJs Need to Become Scarcer," 6 Dec. 2019 In those files, reinforced by recollections of his daughter and of former operatives who worked under him, Crozier emerges as a real-life James Bond. — USA Today, "JFK files: CIA spy in Cuba ‘befriended’ Castro, Che; played key role amid nuclear-war fears," 21 Nov. 2019 The San Francisco Public Library is hosting a number of programs and exhibitions about the Alcatraz occupation, including an evening of recollections by activists Tuesday and a slide show of photographs by Ilka Hartmann. — Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, "‘The Indians have landed!’ How the long occupation of Alcatraz began," 15 Nov. 2019 A Master Class in Handmade Pasta and Gray Malin: Italy Italy is somewhere most travelers keep coming back to—either in fond recollections of trips past or as returning visitors, eager for just a bit more. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Coffee Table Books to Give (and Keep) This Year," 1 Nov. 2019 Such limitations were put in place to prevent the prosecution of cases faced with fading witness recollections or evidence, both brought on by years of inactivity. — Nicholas Rondinone, courant.com, "The Hartford State’s Attorney was required to investigate deadly police shootings. Five still sit without rulings – including two for more than a decade.," 24 Oct. 2019

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

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Last Updated

14 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Recollection.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recollection. Accessed 20 January 2020.