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 There were also many moments where people remembered the same thing differently. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025 So just remember, card, footwear, and go the right way. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025 Speak with family or trusted friends about any concerns or fears, and remember that cherished memories don't go away when moving to a new home. Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2025 Answer: Many residents also remember spring azalea sales at nurseries and parking lots offered by garden clubs and a number of societies. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for remember

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Cite this Entry

“Remember.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/remember. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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