Remember: Definition, Synonyms, & How to Use It

By Team ABJ

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“Remember” is a word we use when we talk about being able to bring back or recall information, experiences, or things from the past. When you remember something, it means that you can bring it to your mind and think about it again, like remembering a fun day at the park or recalling a friend’s name. It’s like your brain is retrieving information stored in your memory and bringing it into your thoughts or awareness.

Table of contents:

Meaning and definition of ‘remember’

The word “remember” has various meanings and can be used in different contexts:

  • Recollection or Memory: Remember refers to the ability to recall or bring to mind information, experiences, or events from the past. It involves the mental process of retrieving stored information in one’s memory.
  • To Not Forget: It also means to keep something in your mind so that you don’t forget it. For instance, “Remember to turn off the lights before leaving.”
  • To Honor or Commemorate: Remember can also signify paying tribute or showing respect to someone or something from the past. For example, “Let’s remember those who fought for our country.”

In definition, “remember” typically refers to the cognitive process of recalling or retrieving stored information in one’s mind and being able to bring it into conscious thought or awareness. It involves the ability to retain and retrieve past experiences or knowledge.

How do you pronounce ‘remember’?

“Remember” is pronounced as: \rih-ˈmem-bər\

It is broken down into three syllables: re-mem-ber.

  • “Re” sounds like “ree.”
  • “Mem” sounds like “mem.”
  • “Ber” sounds like “burr.”

The stress is typically placed on the second syllable: “re-MEM-ber.”

Synonyms and Antonyms of remember

Here are some synonyms and antonyms for the word “remember”:

Synonyms (words with similar meanings):

  • Recall
  • Recollect
  • Retain
  • Reminisce
  • Memorize
  • Mind
  • Retain
  • Retrieve
  • Bear in mind
  • Call to mind

Antonyms (words with opposite meanings):

  • Forget
  • Neglect
  • Disregard
  • Ignore
  • Overlook
  • Fail to recall
  • Erase
  • Dismiss
  • Unlearn
  • Let slip

Examples of ‘remember’ in sentences

1. “I always remember my grandmother’s wise advice when facing difficult situations.”

  • Here, “remember” is used to indicate the act of recalling or keeping in mind the advice provided by the speaker’s grandmother. It implies that during tough times, the speaker recalls the advice for guidance or comfort.

2. “Can you remember where you put the car keys?”

  • In this sentence, “remember” is used as a request to recall or retrieve information about the location of the car keys. It’s asking the listener if they can recollect or bring to mind where the keys were placed.

3. “It’s important to remember to be kind to others, even when it’s challenging.”

  • Here, “remember” implies the act of keeping something in mind. In this case, it suggests the importance of maintaining kindness towards others, even in difficult situations.

4. “She couldn’t remember the name of the movie she wanted to recommend.”

  • “Remember” is used to express the inability to recall or bring to mind the name of a movie the person intended to suggest.

5. “Every year, we gather to remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.”

  • In this sentence, “remember” is used in the sense of honoring or commemorating the sacrifices made by individuals for the sake of freedom. It signifies an act of paying tribute or showing respect to those who gave their lives.

6. “I need to remember to buy groceries on the way home from work.”

  • Here, “remember” indicates the need to keep something in mind as a reminder to purchase groceries while heading home from work.

7. “Please remember to turn off the lights before leaving the room.”

  • This sentence uses “remember” as an instruction or reminder, asking someone to ensure they don’t forget to switch off the lights before leaving the room.

8. “He couldn’t remember the details of the story he heard last week.”

  • “Remember” indicates the inability to recall specific details or information about a story heard previously.

9. “As I grow older, it becomes harder to remember names easily.”

  • Here, “remember” is used to express the difficulty or challenge in recalling names easily, suggesting a decline in memory as one ages.

10. “Let’s remember the good times we had together and cherish those memories.”

  • This sentence employs “remember” to emphasize the act of recalling and cherishing pleasant memories or experiences shared together. It suggests reminiscing about the past positively.

What are the related terms and phrases to ‘remember’?

Related terms and phrases to “remember” often revolve around memory, cognition, and the act of recalling information. Here are some related terms and phrases:

  1. Recall: Similar to remember, it means to bring information back to mind. Recall often refers to the act of remembering something previously learned or experienced.
  2. Memory: This term refers to the mental faculty of retaining and recalling past experiences, information, or knowledge.
  3. Retain: To keep or maintain something in one’s memory or possession. It relates to the ability to hold onto information.
  4. Reminisce: To indulge in the recollection of past events or experiences, often with a sense of nostalgia or fondness.
  5. Memorize: The process of learning something by heart, committing it to memory deliberately or through repetition.
  6. Cognition: Refers to the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, and understanding knowledge, including memory and remembering.
  7. Recollection: The act of remembering; the process of calling something back to mind or remembering something previously forgotten.
  8. Mnemonic: A device, such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations, used to assist in remembering something.
  9. Memory Lane: A phrase used to describe a nostalgic or reminiscent journey through one’s past experiences or memories.
  10. Flashback: Recalling a past event vividly, as if reliving it in the present, often triggered by something that reminds one of that event.

Common idioms with remember

Here are some idiomatic expressions or idioms that include the word “remember”:

1. Remember the Alamo: This phrase refers to the Battle of the Alamo in 1836 and is used to emphasize the importance of remembering significant events or sacrifices in history.

2. Remember me to someone: It’s a polite way of asking someone to convey your greetings or regards to another person.

3. Remember your roots: This phrase encourages someone to stay connected to their origins, heritage, or upbringing.

4. Remember where you came from: A reminder to remain humble and not forget one’s humble beginnings or past experiences.

5. Remember the Maine: This phrase refers to the USS Maine incident in 1898 and is used similarly to “Remember the Alamo,” urging remembrance of important events.

6. Remember me when the time comes: A request or plea for someone to remember or help when needed in the future.

7. Remember it like it was yesterday: An expression used to emphasize that a memory is vivid and feels as fresh as if it happened recently.

8. Remember your manners: A reminder to behave politely and with proper etiquette.

9. Remember the Titans: Referring to the 2000 movie and used as a way of recalling or paying homage to a significant moment, person, or event.

Rhyming words with remember

Here are some rhyming words with “remember”:

  • September
  • Surrender
  • Timber
  • December
  • Ember
  • Dismember
  • November
  • Member
  • Tender
  • Slender

What are the other forms of ‘remember’?

The word “remember” is a verb. Here are its other forms:

1. Remembering (Present Participle): This form is used to describe the ongoing action of recalling or keeping something in mind.

  • Example: She is remembering her childhood days while looking at old photographs.

2. Remembered (Past Tense): This form indicates that the action of recalling or retaining something in mind happened in the past.

  • Example: He remembered the instructions given by his teacher yesterday.

3. Remembered (Past Participle): Used with auxiliary verbs such as “have” or “had” to form the perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect). For Example:

  • Present Perfect: I have remembered to bring my keys today.
  • Past Perfect: By the time I arrived, she had remembered to call her parents.

4. Rememberer (Noun): This is a less commonly used form, but it refers to a person who remembers or recalls things.

  • Example: Grandma was always the rememberer in our family, never forgetting a birthday.

How do you use ‘remember’ in spoken English?

Using the word “remember” effectively in spoken English can enhance your communication skills. Here are some tips with explanations on how to use it:

1. Be Clear and Specific: Explain what you want to remember or what you’re asking someone to remember clearly. Use descriptive words if necessary.

  • Example: “Can you remember to pick up the groceries on your way home, please?”

2. Use Context: Incorporate “remember” in conversations to recall events, experiences, or instructions from the past.

  • Example: “Do you remember the time we went hiking in the mountains?”

3. Employ Different Tenses: Use the various forms of “remember” (remembering, remembered, rememberer) to convey different time frames or aspects of memory.

  • Example: “I remembered to turn off the lights before leaving.”

4. Requesting Memory Recall: Politely ask someone if they can recall something.

  • Example: “Could you remember where I left my keys?”

5. Expressing Memory: Share your experiences and memories using “remember.”

  • Example: “I remember feeling so excited when I got my first bicycle.”

6. Linking Memories: Connect shared experiences or stories using “remember” to engage in conversations.

  • Example: “Remember that restaurant we visited on our trip last year?”

7. Using Phrases and Idioms: Incorporate idiomatic expressions that include “remember” in casual conversations for emphasis or to evoke a particular sentiment.

  • Example: “Remember your manners when meeting new people.”

8. Be Mindful of Tone and Intonation: Your tone can convey urgency, politeness, or emphasis when asking someone to remember something. Adjust your tone accordingly.

  • Example: “Please remember to submit the report by the end of the day.”

9. Practice Active Listening: When someone else is speaking about their memories, actively listen and engage in the conversation by acknowledging their shared experiences.

  • Example: “Yes, I remember that day too! It was such a fun time.”

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