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.

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Etymology

Origin of muscle memory

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

More than make a career, what it does is it gives you sort of a muscle memory to start to see the things that human beings do that are not right.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

"He still comes out with names like it's sort of muscle memory, but he doesn't know that they are people," she added.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

“The muscle memory from the post-‘liberation day’ selloff is still clearly with investors,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth, during an interview with MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

That goal remains unchanged, but the US space agency is shifting its flight lineup to include a test mission before an eventual lunar landing to improve launch "muscle memory," Isaacman said.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

My hand lifted to my collar as though drawn by muscle memory.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros