memorable
Americanadjective
-
worth remembering; notable.
a memorable speech.
- Synonyms:
- celebrated, impressive, noteworthy
-
easily remembered.
adjective
Usage
What does memorable mean? Memorable means easy to remember or worth remembering, especially due to being remarkable in a positive way. Events, experiences, people, and things can be described as memorable. In all of these cases, the term is almost always used positively. The term unforgettable is a close synonym, but is perhaps even stronger. Example: It was one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever experienced—I’ll never forget it.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of memorable
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin memorābilis “worth mentioning,” from memorā(re) “to mention” + -bilis -ble
Explanation
The adjective memorable is good for describing something that you just can't forget, like the first time you ever saw your Uncle Marvin in his full clown costume. Something that's memorable is easily remembered because of how unusual it is — like the time you saw your grandmother's cat using the toilet — or because it is meaningful or special like the memorable day when you met your best friend or the memorable concert in which you got to dance onstage with the singer. The Latin word for worthy of being remembered, memorabilis , is the root of memorable.
Vocabulary lists containing memorable
Total Recall: Mem
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Workshop 4, Part 1
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"Journeys," Vocabulary from Lesson 29
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Panettiere played a cheerleader with superpowers in Heroes and had other memorable roles, including in films Remember the Titans and Raising Helen.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Viv reconnects with her first love—they had a memorable encounter in a rowboat one Fourth of July, before the Pickfords sold their cottage and stopped visiting the island.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
The problem was that the 37-year-old assemblywoman couldn’t quite manage to assemble a compelling narrative from all those memorable, resonant elements.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
If you love taking your cat for walks or hikes around L.A., we want to hear all about it — what inspired you to start, your favorite walking places, your most memorable moments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
It was going to be a memorable birthday if folks were already this riled.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
