anterograde

adjective

an·​ter·​o·​grade ˈan-tə-(ˌ)rō-ˌgrād 

1

: occurring or performed in the normal or forward direction of conduction or flow: such as

a

: occurring along nerve processes away from the cell body

anterograde axonal transport

compare retrograde sense 1c(1)

b

: occurring in the normal direction or path of blood circulation

restoration of anterograde flow in an occluded coronary artery

compare retrograde sense 1c(2)

2

: affecting memories for a period of time immediately following a precipitating event (such as alcohol intoxication, traumatic brain injury, or severe emotional stress) and especially from the time of onset to the present

anterograde amnesia

compare retrograde sense 5

Examples of anterograde in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Christopher Nolan’s neo-noir breakout follows a man (Guy Pearce) suffering from anterograde amnesia who tries to solve his wife’s murder without the ability to form new short-term memories. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin antero- from front to (from Latin anterior) + English -grade

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

anterograde

adjective

an·​tero·​grade ˈant-ə-(ˌ)rō-ˌgrād 

1

: affecting memories for a period of time immediately following a precipitating event (as alcohol intoxication, traumatic brain injury, electroconvulsive therapy, or severe emotional stress) and especially from the time of onset to the present

anterograde memory loss

He suffered an anterograde amnesia. He drew from his past and registered the present, but his brain could not consolidate a new experience and retain it.

—Bruce H. Dobkin, Discover

compare retrograde sense 2

2

: occurring or performed in the normal or forward direction of conduction or flow: as

a

: occurring along nerve cell processes away from the cell body

anterograde axonal transport

b

: occurring in the normal direction or path of blood circulation

restoration of anterograde flow in an occluded coronary artery

compare retrograde sense 3