WordGarden.iomemorably
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈɛmərəbli/
US
- /ˈmɛmərəbli/
Meanings
Adverb
in a way that is easy to remember or leaves a lasting impression
Beyond the definition
"Memorably" describes something happening in a way that stays in your mind. Usually, it means the moment was especially good, bad, moving, funny, or unusual. It is not just about being remembered later; it suggests that something leaves a clear impression when it happens.
Think of a comedian giving a memorably funny performance, or a trip ending memorably because of one perfect last day. It can also be used for negative moments, such as a speech that fails memorably or a mistake that people talk about for years. The word often carries a sense of emotional weight, whether the feeling is joyful, painful, or surprising.
"Memorably" is an adverb that means in a way that is likely to be remembered or that leaves a lasting impression. It suggests more than simple recall. When something happens memorably, it stands out from the ordinary and stays with people because it feels especially vivid, powerful, unusual, or meaningful.
The word can be used for positive experiences, negative ones, and everything in between. A singer might perform memorably and leave the audience talking about the show for years. A team might lose memorably in a dramatic final minute. A person might speak memorably at a wedding, a funeral, or a public event because their words fit the moment so well.
Often, "memorably" points to the effect something has on other people. A meal can be prepared memorably, a film can end memorably, and a character in a novel can be written memorably enough to stay alive in the reader's mind long after the story ends. The word does not require greatness on a historic scale. Even a small act, a brief meeting, or an ordinary day can unfold memorably if there is something in it that leaves a clear emotional mark.
In tone, "memorably" is flexible. It may suggest admiration, as in something beautiful or skillful, but it can also suggest shock, embarrassment, sadness, or chaos. What matters is not whether the event was pleasant. What matters is that it was hard to forget. That is the heart of the word: something happened in a way that made it stay with you.
Examples
- 1
Acting
The actor performed memorably in his first film.
- 2
Interview
She spoke memorably about her childhood in the interview.
- 3
Novel opening
The novel opens memorably, with a child standing alone at a train station.
- 4
Public criticism
The mayor memorably described the project as "a bridge to nowhere."
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Standout detail
Several people helped us that day, most memorably our neighbor Lina.
See also
Similar
- unforgettably
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- forgettably
- blandly
Used with (collocations)
- memorably described
- memorably performed
- memorably put
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- memorablyadverb