memory
memory — noun
1. The power that your brain has to keep and later bring back information about thi
The power that your brain has to keep and later bring back information about things you have learned or experienced.
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
The accident left Niran with no memory of the hour before the crash.
Playing the piano from memory requires years of consistent practice.
- 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.
- forgetfulness
the tendency to forget rather than remember.
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
2. A specific thought, image, or experience from an earlier time that comes back in
A specific thought, image, or experience from an earlier time that comes back into your mind.
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
Aoi has only vague memories of the summer when her family moved to Osaka.
Stefan shares happy memories of hiking in the Alps with his university friends.
- 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
3. The components inside a computer or other electronic device that hold data and p
The components inside a computer or other electronic device that hold data and programs for either quick access during operation or long-term keeping.
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
You should save your work regularly in case the computer runs out of memory unexpectedly.
Nia bought a larger memory card for her camera before the trip to Brazil.
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
4. The range of past years that falls within what a particular person or community
The range of past years that falls within what a particular person or community can still recall.
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
Tanvi says this year's harvest is the best in recent memory after years of drought.
The practice of lighting bonfires on that hill dates back beyond living memory.
- 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
5. The way someone is thought of after they die, or the fact that their life is kep
The way someone is thought of after they die, or the fact that their life is kept in people's thoughts.
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.
The choir gave a special concert to honour the memory of their former conductor.
That singer's memory lives on through her recordings and the charity she founded.
- 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.