What does memorised mean?
Memorised is the past tense and past participle of the verb memorise, meaning to learn something and retain it in memory. It is especially used when someone has deliberately learned words, facts, a speech, or a piece of music so that they can reproduce it accurately without looking at notes. A person who has memorised a poem may recite it from memory, while a performer may have memorised a role before a performance. The term can sometimes carry a mildly negative implication, suggesting rote learning rather than deep understanding, although it more often simply describes the act of learning something by heart. The spelling with -s is common in British English, while memorized is the standard North American form. The word is useful when precision matters because it distinguishes intentional retention of information from merely remembering something encountered previously.
verb (past tense and past participle)To learn something and retain it in memory, especially by heart. It can also mean to commit something to memory for later use or performance.
- To learn something so that it can be recalled without consulting notes or other sources.
- To learn and retain information for a performance, examination, or practical task.
"She memorised the passage and recited it perfectly at the recital."
"The students memorised the vocabulary list before the test."
"He memorised the final speech the night before the ceremony."
A memorable performance may be delightful; a memorised one is the result of putting something safely into memory.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of memorised
The word belongs to a family derived from Latin memoria, meaning “memory” or “remembrance.” The English verb memorise developed through French, with the suffix -ise reflecting the influence of French vocabulary on the word. Related English forms include memory, memorable, memorial and mnemonic, all of which preserve the idea of remembering or commemorating.
Related word forms
How memorised is actually used
The -ised spelling is standard in British English; North American English normally uses -ized. The word often suggests deliberate learning, particularly by heart, rather than learning through everyday experience.
Easily confused with memorised
Memorised is the usual British spelling, while memorized is the usual American spelling.