memory

/ˈmeməri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmeməri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmem-rē ˈme-mə-/ (ame, mw)

memory — noun

  • memorysingular
  • memoriesplural

1. The power that your brain has to keep and later bring back information about thi

1.名詞B1
釋義

The power that your brain has to keep and later bring back information about things you have learned or experienced.

例句

Sumin has an excellent memory for names and rarely forgets a face.

memory for [something] — the thing easily remembered

As people grow older, their short-term memory often becomes less reliable.

collocation: short-term / long-term memory

同義詞
  • recall

    usually refers to the act of remembering rather than the capacity; 'total recall' means the ability to remember everything.

  • recollection

    more formal than memory; often suggests a deliberate effort to remember something specific.

反義詞

文法句型

memory + for + [something]

have + a/an + [adjective] + memory

用法筆記

Often modified by adjectives describing quality (good, poor, photographic, visual, short-term). Use 'memory for' to state the type of thing remembered (a memory for faces, a memory for dates).

常見錯誤

❌I have a good remind of what happened.
✅I have a good memory of what happened.
💡'remind' is a verb; 'memory' is the noun for the ability to recall.

2. A specific thought, image, or experience from an earlier time that comes back in

2.名詞A2
釋義

A specific thought, image, or experience from an earlier time that comes back into your mind.

例句

One of Arjun's fondest memories is of helping his father build a treehouse.

fondest + memories — common adjective-noun collocation

The old photograph brought back a flood of childhood memories for Adina.

collocation: bring back + memories

同義詞
  • recollection

    slightly more formal; often implies a deliberate effort to retrieve a memory.

  • reminiscence

    implies a pleasurable, nostalgic remembering of past experiences, often shared with others.

  • remembrance

    formal, often used in commemorative contexts.

文法句型

memory + of + [noun/gerund]

[adjective] + memories

用法筆記

This sense is countable and can be singular (a memory) or plural (memories). Common verbs used with this sense include bring back, trigger, evoke, cherish, share, and treasure. Adding an adjective (fond, happy, distant, painful, vague) helps the reader know this is a specific recollection, not the ability sense.

常見錯誤

❌I have memory of that trip.' (ambiguous — could mean ability or recollection).
✅I have a fond memory of that trip.
💡adding an adjective or article makes the sense clear.

3. The components inside a computer or other electronic device that hold data and p

3.名詞B1
釋義

The components inside a computer or other electronic device that hold data and programs for either quick access during operation or long-term keeping.

例句

The new laptop has sixteen gigabytes of memory, enough for all her design files.

measurement: [number] + gigabytes of memory

Caio deleted several old apps to free up memory on his mobile phone.

collocation: free up / run out of memory

同義詞
  • RAM

    specific type of memory used for short-term data access; not interchangeable with general storage.

  • storage

    broader term; includes hard drives and SSDs, not just memory chips.

文法句型

memory + noun (memory card)

[number] + of + memory

run out of + memory

用法筆記

Uncountable when referring to storage capacity in general (My phone has plenty of memory). Countable when referring to a specific device such as a memory chip or memory card (I bought two memories for the server). In everyday speech, the uncountable use is far more common.

常見錯誤

❌I saved the file in my memory.
✅I saved the file to the computer memory.
💡Without context, 'memory' alone is understood as the human ability, not computer storage.

4. The range of past years that falls within what a particular person or community

4.名詞B2
釋義

The range of past years that falls within what a particular person or community can still recall.

例句

Within living memory, the village has never experienced a flood this severe.

fixed phrase: within living memory

Last winter was the coldest in recent memory across the whole region.

fixed phrase: in recent memory

同義詞
  • lifetime

    refers to the period a person is alive, not specifically what they remember.

文法句型

in/within + [determiner] + memory

beyond + memory

用法筆記

This sense is almost always used in fixed prepositional phrases: 'in/within living memory' (within the lifetime of people alive now), 'in recent memory' (in the recent past that people remember), 'beyond/within memory'. It is rarely used outside these patterns.

常見錯誤

❌This is the biggest storm of my memory.
✅This is the biggest storm in living memory.
💡'in living memory' is the standard fixed phrase; 'of my memory' is not idiomatic.

5. The way someone is thought of after they die, or the fact that their life is kep

5.名詞B2
釋義

The way someone is thought of after they die, or the fact that their life is kept in people's thoughts.

例句

The community planted a cherry tree in the park in memory of Dr. Nakamura.

fixed expression: in memory of [someone]

Kevin's grandfather left a strong memory as a generous and honest man.

同義詞
  • legacy

    broader — includes achievements, possessions, and influence, not just what people remember.

  • reputation

    focuses on what people think of someone while alive; memory emphasizes posthumous remembrance.

文法句型

in memory of + [someone]

honour/keep alive + the memory of + [someone]

用法筆記

Often appears in the fixed expression 'in memory of' before a commemorative act. Other common patterns include 'honour/respect/keep alive the memory of' someone. This sense is typically formal and used in obituaries, dedications, and eulogies.