- 1 [countable, uncountable] memory (for something) your ability to remember things I have a bad memory for names. People have short memories (= they soon forget). He had a long memory for people who had disappointed him. She can recite the whole poem from memory. He suffered loss of memory for weeks after the accident. Are you sure? Memory can play tricks on you. I quickly committed the number of the car to memory(= learned and remembered it). The drugs had a severe effect on her short-term memory. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveexcellent, good, long, … verb + memoryjog, refresh, lose, … prepositionfrom memory, memory for phrasesin living memory, in recent memory, if memory serves, … See full entry
- 2 [uncountable] the period of time that somebody is able to remember events There hasn’t been peace in the country in/within my memory. It was the worst storm in recent memory. This hasn't happened in living memory (= nobody alive now can remember it happening). Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveexcellent, good, long, … verb + memoryjog, refresh, lose, … prepositionfrom memory, memory for phrasesin living memory, in recent memory, if memory serves, … See full entry something you remember
- 3 [countable] a thought of something that you remember from the past synonym recollection childhood memories I have vivid memories of my grandparents. What is your earliest memory? The photos bring back lots of good memories. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivechildhood, early, dim, … verb + memoryhave, bring back, evoke, … memory + verbcome flooding back, flood back, flood somebody’s mind, … prepositionat the memory, in memory of, memory from, … phrasesin loving memory See full entry
- 4[uncountable] (formal) what is remembered about somebody after they have died Her memory lives on (= we still remember her). Their behaviour insults the memory of those who died for this country. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivechildhood, early, dim, … verb + memoryhave, bring back, evoke, … memory + verbcome flooding back, flood back, flood somebody’s mind, … prepositionat the memory, in memory of, memory from, … phrasesin loving memory See full entry computing
- 5 [countable, uncountable] the part of a computer where information is stored; the amount of space in a computer for storing information Have you got enough memory available to run the program? see also RAM Wordfindercomputercomputer, display, drive, keyboard, memory, platform, program, reboot, router, screen Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivecomputer, system, cache, … verb + memoryexpand, take up memory + nounstick, drive, slot, … See full entry See related entries: Computer hardware Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French memorie, from Latin memoria, from memor ‘mindful, remembering’.Idioms
noun jump to other results
BrE BrE//ˈmeməri//; NAmE NAmE//ˈmeməri//
(pl. memories) Computer hardwareif something is etched on your memory, you remember it because it has made a strong impression on you
(informal) to have a very bad memory; to forget things easily
if I remember correctly
intended to show respect and remind people of somebody who has died He founded the charity in memory of his late wife. The statue was erected to the memory of my father.
to say or do something that makes somebody remember something Maybe these letters will help to jog your memory.
Check pronunciation: memory
