memorize

1 of 2

verb

mem·​o·​rize ˈme-mə-ˌrīz How to pronounce memorize (audio)
memorized; memorizing
Synonyms of memorizenext

transitive verb

: to commit to memory : learn by heart
actors memorizing their lines
memorizable
ˌme-mə-ˈrī-zə-bəl How to pronounce memorize (audio)
adjective
memorizer noun

memorizer

2 of 2

noun

mem·​o·​riz·​er
-zə(r)
plural -s
: one that memorizes

Synonyms of memorize

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Verb

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Examples of memorize in a Sentence

Verb an actress memorizing her lines everyone has to memorize a poem for next week's class
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Success can no longer be defined by how much information students memorize before graduation. — Lisa Schade, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Trey Watson Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s playbook is famous for its complexity, and as a result rookies have had trouble memorizing it early in their careers. — Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026 The master told him to go and memorize a thousand lines of poetry. — Sabrina Jaszi, The Dial, 4 Aug. 2026 Yaroch used his top-secret security clearance to log on to government databases and memorize the passphrases associated with adversarial accounts. — Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for memorize

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of memorize was in 1834

Rhymes for memorize

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Browse Nearby Words

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memorize
memorizer
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Cite this Entry

“Memorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memorize. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

memorize

verb
mem·​o·​rize ˈmem-ə-ˌrīz How to pronounce memorize (audio)
memorized; memorizing
: to learn by heart
memorization
ˌmem-(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce memorize (audio)
noun

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