by heart

Idioms  

1. Also, by rote. From memory; also, mechanically. For example, Betty had trouble learning the song by heart, but her teacher insisted on it, or Japanese schools put heavy emphasis on learning by rote. These terms are often put as. The first term was already used by Chaucer (in Troilus and Cressida). The variant, also dating from the 1300s, often implies mere memorization without deeper understanding. Both phrases remain in use, although this form of learning is no longer so widespread as it once was. Also see commit to memory.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

by heart

You can recite the climbing gospel by heart: Save more, max the match, don’t touch it, buy and hold.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026

In animal studies, the injectable material improved tissue damage caused by heart attacks in both rodents and large animals.

From Science Daily ● May 5, 2026

"We should never, ever justify racial abuse. Vinicius has had enough of that unjustified behaviour from people. I know Mourinho by heart would agree with me but he expressed himself a bit unfortunately, I believe."

From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026

Lindsey Vonn leaned into the gate on Sunday, staring down at a Cortina downhill course that she knew by heart.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 8, 2026

I’m telling her what every boy in Prentisstown knows, the history even the dumbest farm boy like yours truly knows by heart.

From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness

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