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muscle memory

American  
[muhs-uhl mem-uh-ree] / ˈmʌs əl ˌmɛm ə ri /

noun

  1. Psychology, Physiology. the ability, acquired through repetition, to complete a particular muscular movement quickly, efficiently, and without conscious effort.


Etymology

Origin of muscle memory

First recorded in 1885–90

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.

“Any time I outsource my thoughts to something that isn’t my own brain, I’m worried I’m going to lose that muscle memory.”

From The Wall Street Journal

She said he approached her twice during that time to talk to her and apologised for what he had done, explaining that it was "muscle memory".

From BBC

To prepare for the operation, the SBU brought in some of their best drone pilots to train on the machines, flying all day long to develop muscle memory.

From The Wall Street Journal

It's muscle memory like touch-typing or driving a familiar route home.

From BBC

The movement is like muscle memory, and I feel that— in this moment—the soil and I are one.

From Literature