1
as in memory
a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered I have no recollection of ever saying that

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2
as in mind
the power or process of recalling what has been previously learned or experienced the gradual recollection of that long-ago romance brought back both happy and painful feelings

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word recollection distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of recollection are memory, remembrance, and reminiscence. While all these words mean "the capacity for or the act of remembering, or the thing remembered," recollection adds an implication of consciously bringing back to mind often with some effort.

after a moment's recollection he produced the name

When is memory a more appropriate choice than recollection?

The meanings of memory and recollection largely overlap; however, 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

Where would remembrance be a reasonable alternative to recollection?

Although the words remembrance and recollection have much in common, remembrance applies to the act of remembering or the fact of being remembered.

any remembrance of his deceased wife was painful

When is it sensible to use reminiscence instead of recollection?

While in some cases nearly identical to recollection, reminiscence suggests the recalling of usually pleasant incidents, experiences, or feelings from a remote past.

my grandmother's reminiscences of her Iowa girlhood

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of recollection Richard said she’s recounted it over time to the best of her recollection. Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 19 May 2025 Carter’s recollection of how much Dunne wanted to be on television, and how much John Dunne hated his brother’s fame once Dominick came back from failure and addiction to achieve fame as a writer, is fascinating. John Tamny, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 Indeed, when the Thirteenth Doctor meets the Fugitive Doctor for the first time, both are confused because neither has any recollection of the other. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 May 2025 In its own way, the film is also a contemplation of recollections, memory and post-Yugoslav reality. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for recollection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recollection
memory
Noun
  • Whether stowed in a recipe tin, pasted in a book, or safely tucked away in a memory, family recipes are part of what makes cooking so special.
    Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 21 June 2025
  • This, in turn, can significantly impact a child’s mood, memory or attention.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Recollection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recollection. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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