Definition of remembernext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word remember distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of remember are recall, recollect, remind, and reminisce. While all these words mean "to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind," remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled.

remembers that day as though it were yesterday

When would recall be a good substitute for remember?

The synonyms recall and remember are sometimes interchangeable, but recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.

can't recall the words of the song

When can recollect be used instead of remember?

The words recollect and remember can be used in similar contexts, but recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.

as near as I can recollect

When could remind be used to replace remember?

Although the words remind and remember have much in common, remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.

that reminds me of a story

In what contexts can reminisce take the place of remember?

While in some cases nearly identical to remember, reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.

old college friends like to reminisce

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 remember Here’s how to make your next trip one your kids actually remember. Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026 In Porto, Portugal, Alejandro Morales Gonzalez remembers exactly when his anxiety about hair began. Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026 No one remembers it now, America. Anderson Tepper, Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026 Those on the ground at the time remember things differently. Paul Blustein, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for remember
Recent Examples of Synonyms for remember
recall
Verb
  • The ex-governor, who was recalled in 2003 and replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, acknowledged his comments won’t please Democrats worried about the party’s large field splintering support, resulting in two Republicans advancing to the November runoff.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Carter recalled Bethany saying.
    Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Remember.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/remember. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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