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 The Big One — the pile-up that will be remembered from this race — came with 17 laps to go, when Jack Wood was turned into the outside wall and thereafter collected so many contenders in his wake, including Rajah Caruth and Matt Crafton and Michael McDowell. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2025 Even amid some high-profile relationships — real ones will remember the culture-shifting event that was her dating Cara Delevigne for 18 months — Clark has always been private about her personal life. James Factora, Them, 3 Feb. 2025 The sudden collaboration to solve the issue swiftly, though, is what some involved will remember most. Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 3 Feb. 2025 Yes, some of us might remember that Indiana trailed Notre Dame 27-3 in the fourth quarter of the first Playoff game, but there’s no scenario in which this was not a great season for Cignetti and company. Manny Navarro, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for remember 

Thesaurus Entries Near remember

Cite this Entry

“Remember.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/remember. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on remember

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!