remember (something)
Meaning: To have something in your memory. Examples: “I remember my first day at school.” “Do you remember her name?”
recall (something)
Meaning: To bring back information from memory. Examples: “I can’t recall what happened.” “She recalled the conversation perfectly.”
recollect (something)
Meaning: To remember something, often with effort. Examples: “I’m trying to recollect the details.” “As far as I can recollect, he was there.”
reminisce about
Meaning: To talk or think about happy memories. Examples: “Old friends reminiscing about their youth.” “We reminisced about our college days.”
look back on
Meaning: To think about the past. Examples: “Looking back on it, I made the right decision.” “She looks back on her childhood fondly.”
think back to
Meaning: To remember something in the past. Examples: “Think back to when we first met.” “He thought back to his schooldays.”
hark back to
Meaning: To remind of something in the past. Examples: “That song harks back to the 1960s.” “The design harks back to an earlier era.”
cast back to
Meaning: To make someone remember the past. Examples: “The film cast me back to my own childhood.” “Her mind cast back to that day.”
take back to
Meaning: To make someone remember. Examples: “That smell takes me back to my grandmother’s kitchen.” “The photo took him back to his youth.”
bring back
Meaning: To cause to remember. Examples: “The music brought back happy memories.” “Seeing her brought it all back.”
jog someone’s memory
Meaning: To help someone remember. Examples: “This photo might jog your memory.” “I need something to jog my memory.”
refresh someone’s memory
Meaning: To remind someone of something. Examples: “Let me refresh your memory about what happened.” “I refreshed his memory with some photos.”
ring a bell
Meaning: To sound familiar. Examples: “That name rings a bell but I can’t place it.” “Does it ring any bells?”
strike a chord
Meaning: To be familiar or emotionally affecting. Examples: “Her story struck a chord with many people.” “That strikes a chord with me.”
put in mind of
Meaning: To remind of. Examples: “That puts me in mind of my grandfather.” “She puts me in mind of my sister.”
remind (someone) of
Meaning: To make someone remember; to be similar to. Examples: “Remind me to call her.” “You remind me of your mother.”
remember (oneself)
Meaning: To remember who you are and how to behave. Examples: “He forgot himself and shouted, then remembered himself.” “Remember yourself - you’re in church!”
forget (oneself)
Meaning: To behave inappropriately. Examples: “I’m sorry I shouted - I forgot myself.” “She forgot herself and laughed at the funeral.”
compose (oneself)
Meaning: To make yourself calm after being angry/upset. Examples: “She took a moment to compose herself.” “Compose yourself before you go in.”
collect (oneself)
Meaning: To gain control of your feelings. Examples: “He paused to collect himself.” “She needed time to collect her thoughts.”
gather (oneself)
Meaning: To prepare yourself mentally. Examples: “I gathered myself before the interview.” “She gathered her thoughts.”
pull (oneself) together
Meaning: To control your emotions and behave calmly. Examples: “Pull yourself together and stop crying.” “He needs to pull himself together.”
snap out of
Meaning: To quickly stop feeling upset or depressed. Examples: “Snap out of it - it’s not that bad!” “I wish she’d snap out of this mood.”
shake off
Meaning: To get rid of a feeling. Examples: “I can’t shake off this sadness.” “He shook off his disappointment.”
