remember

[ ri-mem-ber ]

verb (used with object)

1. to recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory; think of again:

   I'll try to remember the exact date.

   Antonyms: forget

2. to retain in the memory; keep in mind; remain aware of:

   Remember your appointment with the dentist.

   Antonyms: forget

3. to have (something) come into the mind again:

   I just remembered that it's your birthday today.

4. to bear (a person) in mind as deserving a gift, reward, or fee:

   The company always remembers us at Christmas.

5. to give a tip, donation, or gift to:

   to remember someone in need.

6. to mention (a person) to another as sending kindly greetings:

   Remember me to your family.

7. (of an appliance, computer, etc.) to perform (a programmed activity) at a later time or according to a preset schedule:

   The coffeepot remembers to start the coffee at 7 a.m. every day.

8. Archaic. to remind.

verb (used without object)

1. to possess or exercise the faculty of memory.
2. to have recollection (sometimes followed by of ):

   The old man remembers of his youth.

remember

/ rɪˈmɛmbə /

verb

1. to become aware of (something forgotten) again; bring back to one's consciousness; recall
2. to retain (an idea, intention, etc) in one's conscious mind

   remember to do one's shopping

   to remember Pythagoras' theorem

3. tr to give money, etc, to (someone), as in a will or in tipping
4. trfoll byto to mention (a person's name) to another person, as by way of greeting or friendship

   remember me to your mother

5. tr to mention (a person) favourably, as in prayer
6. tr to commemorate (a person, event, etc)

   to remember the dead of the wars

7. remember oneself
   to recover one's good manners after a lapse; stop behaving badly

Derived Forms

• reˈmemberer, noun

Other Words From

• re·member·a·ble adjective
• re·member·er noun
• unre·membered adjective
• unre·member·ing adjective
• well-re·membered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of remember¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English remembren, from Old French remembrer, from Late Latin rememorārī, equivalent to re- re- + Latin memor “mindful” ( memory ) + -ārī infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of remember¹

C14: from Old French remembrer , from Late Latin rememorārī to recall to mind, from Latin re- + memor mindful; see memory

Synonym Study

Remember, recall, recollect refer to bringing back before the conscious mind things which exist in the memory. Remember implies that a thing exists in the memory, though not actually present in the thoughts at the moment: to remember the days of one's childhood. Recall implies a voluntary effort, though not a great one: to recall the words of a song. Recollect implies an earnest voluntary effort to remember some definite, desired fact or thing: I cannot recollect the exact circumstances.

Example Sentences

“I just remember hanging up and thinking, ‘Huh, well, I hope we even get a shot at this kid.

From Los Angeles Times

Not that I'm immune to all the stuff; none of it's fun, but I remember coming out to LA after a breakup in New York, which is what kind of propelled it.

From Salon

I know where it is, but I never remember the name.

From Los Angeles Times

“And she said, ‘No, I just want you to say yes,’” remembers the actor, who nonetheless insisted on reading the script.

From Los Angeles Times

She worries about her ability to remember her lines.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• commemorate
• get
• learn
• look back
• recall
• recognize
• relive
• remind