# memorize

/ˈmɛmɝˌaɪz/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/memorize
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

to learn something so well that you can remember it perfectly without looking.

For teachers: to commit information to memory so as to be able to recall it exactly. Transitive — requires a direct object.

## Examples

- I need to memorize these vocabulary words for the test.
- The actor spent the entire weekend trying to memorize his lines before the first rehearsal on Monday.
- While some students prefer to memorize formulas through repetition, others find that understanding the underlying logic makes the information much easier to retain long-term.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I memorized about the poem" but "I memorized the poem" — Memorize is a transitive verb; it takes a direct object and does not use the preposition 'about'.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. In British English, the spelling 'memorise' is more common.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.