remember

verb

re·​mem·​ber ri-ˈmem-bər 

remembered; remembering ri-ˈmem-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to bring to mind or think of again

remembers the old days

2

archaic

a

: bethink sense 1b

b

: remind

3

a

: to keep in mind for attention or consideration

remembers friends at Christmas

b

: reward

was remembered in the will

4

: to retain in the memory

remember the facts until the test is over

5

: to convey greetings from

remember me to her

6

: record, commemorate

intransitive verb

1

: to exercise or have the power of memory

2

: to have a recollection or remembrance

rememberability

ri-ˌmem-b(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

rememberable

ri-ˈmem-b(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

rememberer

ri-ˈmem-bər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• flash back (to)
• hark back (to)
• harken back (to)
• hearken back (to)
• mind [chiefly dialect]
• recall
• recollect
• reminisce (about)
• reproduce
• think (of)

Choose the Right Synonym for remember

remember, recollect, recall, remind, reminisce 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

recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.

as near as I can recollect

recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.

can't recall the words of the song

remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.

that reminds me of a story

reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.

old college friends like to reminisce

Example Sentences

I remember my first day of school like it was yesterday.

Do you remember me? I used to work with you many years ago.

Remember when we went hiking last summer?

I remember telling him not to do it, but he did it anyway.

I remember what that felt like.

As far as I can remember, I've never been late to a meeting.

I couldn't remember how to spell her name.

I can't remember where I put that book.

I remembered that I had left my wallet at home.

What was it that I was going to ask him? I can't remember.

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Recent Examples on the Web

The original conference presented midseason minefields even to championship UConn teams — remember, the 2010-11 team went 9-9 in the league. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2023

Christina Applegate’s award show return will be one to remember at Sunday’s Critics Choice Awards. —Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Jan. 2023

Brock Purdy wasn’t quite four years old when LeBron James entered the NBA, which means the basketball star has been a sports icon literally since Purdy can remember. —Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Jan. 2023

The cities and school districts of Royal Oak and Berkley will have a joint MLK Day event to honor and remember Dr. King on Monday. —Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 14 Jan. 2023

More from National Geographic: Relive dramatic events of the war through the people who remember it. —National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023

Other stars who have spoken out to remember Presley include Questlove, LeAnn Rimes, Elvis director Baz Luhrmann, Dolly Parton and more. —Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2023

That’s a responsibility on you to silence your phone notifications at baby’s bedtime or remember to respond to your night-owl boss the next day. —Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2023

On Thursday evening, friends and families with young children dressed in warm coats and hats stood in the chill, damp air to remember Ana Walshe and her children. —Ivy Scott, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Jan. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English remembren, from Anglo-French remembrer, from Late Latin rememorari, from Latin re- + Late Latin memorari to be mindful of, from Latin memor mindful — more at memory

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing remember

• a day to remember
• remember me to
• for as long as one can remember

• a day to remember
• remember me to
• for as long as one can remember

Kids Definition

remember

verb

re·​mem·​ber ri-ˈmem-bər 

remembered; remembering -b(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to bring to mind or think of again

remembers the old days

2

a

: to keep in mind for attention

remember friends at Christmas

b

: reward entry 1 sense 1

was remembered in the will

3

: to keep in the memory

remember the facts for the test

4

: to pass along greetings from

remember us to your family

rememberable

-b(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

rememberer

-bər-ər 

noun