Memorize

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈmɛm.əˌɹaɪ̯z/

Definitions

1. To commit information to memory through deliberate study and repetition so it can be recalled later without reference materials
2. To engage in the process of learning and retaining information intentionally, allowing for its accurate retrieval in the future without needing assistance
3. The act of acquiring knowledge by heart through focused practice and ongoing revision, enabling its recollection when required

Etymology: "Memorize" comes from the Latin "memor," meaning "mindful" or "remembering," the same root that gives English "memory" and "remember." The Latin suffix "-izare," borrowed into English through Medieval Latin and French forms, turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to make or do something." So "memorize" literally means "to make memorable," or to fix something in memory. The verb is a relatively late arrival. It appears in English in the early 1600s, and it began as a fairly technical-sounding formation built on the older noun "memory," which had been in the language since the 1300s. Its meaning has stayed close to the original: to commit something to memory so that it can be recalled later.

Synonyms: learn, retain, commit to memory

Antonyms: forget, unlearn