English Reference
noun

memory

n.
US /ˈmɛmɝi/ UK /mˈɛməɹˌi/ mem·o·ry UK spelling memories, memory's

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    your ability to store and remember information in your mind.

    the cognitive faculty by which the brain encodes, stores, and retrieves information.

    Simple

    He has a great memory for names and never forgets a face.

    In context

    As we age, our short-term memory may decline, though our ability to recall distant events often remains remarkably sharp.

    forgetfulness
  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    something that you remember from the past.

    a specific mental impression or record of a past event.

    Simple

    I have fond memories of the summers we spent at the beach.

    In context

    The old photograph triggered a vivid memory of his childhood home, complete with the scent of pine needles and woodsmoke.

    recollectionreminiscence
  3. 03 B1 Intermediate Technical Computing

    the part of a computer or phone where information is stored.

    the physical devices used to store programs or data on a temporary or permanent basis in a computer.

    Simple

    My phone is slow because the memory is almost full.

    In context

    Upgrading the system's random-access memory allowed the workstation to handle complex video rendering without significant latency.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the period of time that people can remember.

    the reach or period of time covered by the faculty of remembering.

    Simple

    It was the worst storm in living memory.

    In context

    The village elders claimed that no drought in recent memory had been quite as devastating to the local harvest.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency Literary Science

    a special name for a group of elephants.

    a collective noun for a social group of elephants.

    Simple

    We watched a memory of elephants walk slowly toward the water hole.

    In context

    The documentary highlighted the complex social bonds within a memory of elephants, emphasizing their long-term mourning rituals.

  6. 06 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the ability of a material to return to its original shape.

    the property of a material, such as a polymer or alloy, to return to a previously defined shape when triggered by a stimulus like heat.

    Simple

    These glasses are made of memory metal, so they don't break easily.

    In context

    The surgical stent was manufactured from a nickel-titanium alloy with shape memory, allowing it to expand once reaching body temperature.

Don't confuse

memory vs remember — Remember is the action of bringing a thought back to mind, while memory is the mental storage or the specific thing you recall.

Usage memory loss · human memory · memory homogeneous

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Very common
Updated