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Glite Dictionary
to refresh memory

to refresh memory

24 3.4
To help someone remember things they learned before
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : refrescar la memoria
  • Before the meeting, I looked over my notes to refresh my memory about the project details.

Examples

  • Uh, Lloyd, refresh my memory:

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Does that refresh your memory?

    Fiction book (1999)

  • We're just going to refresh your memory...

    Fiction book (1997)

  • "Perhaps I can refresh your memory."

    Fiction book (1992)

  • "Could you refresh my memory?

    Fiction book (1998)

  • "Let me refresh your memory," he offered.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Perhaps someone reading this can refresh my memory about where that occurs in Scripture.

    Blog text (32)

  • I knew things about her, but I looked at the diary again and refreshed my memory a little bit.

    Blog text (30)

  • "I've been refreshing my memory on what my department must do in case of evacuation, Director.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Please refresh my memory on when Iraq and Saddam Hussein threatened us or attacked us?

    Blog text (2)

Synonyms

to remember
vsto refresh memory
∞ 1.0

To think about something from the past

involves actively helping someone regain learned information rather than self action
to remind
vsto refresh memory
∞ 1.0

To make someone remember something they need to do or something from the past

targets helping someone recover previously learned information rather than task prompts
to remind someone of
vsto refresh memory
∞ 2.6

To make someone think of a person, place, or time from the past

focuses on restoring factual learned information rather than simple associations
to bring back
vsto refresh memory
143 3.0

Make someone remember something from the past

is narrower, centering on helping others regain learned details
to review
vsto refresh memory
106 1.8

To study something again to remember it better

relies on self-review to regain knowledge rather than another person prompting
to refresh
vsto refresh memory
50 2.8

Help someone or yourself remember something forgotten

has the same aim of restoring learned details to someone
to retrieve
vsto refresh memory
44 4.1

To bring a memory or fact back into your mind

is about helping another person recover learned information rather than solo mental search
to jog
vsto refresh memory
29 3.7

To make someone remember something with a small hint

is aimed specifically at prompting retrieval of learned details
to bring back memories
vsto refresh memory
21 3.5

To make someone remember the past, for example a song or photo

focuses on factual detail recovery rather than evoking emotional memories
to recollect
vsto refresh memory
20 3.7

To remember something from the past

focuses on assisting someone else to regain learned information rather than self recovery
to jog one's memory
vsto refresh memory
5 4.5

Help someone remember something they forgot

focuses on aiding recall of specific learned facts rather than casual cues
to recall
vsto refresh memory
5 3.4

Bring someone's attention back from daydreaming

aims to restore learned detail recall, not merely refocus attention
to refamiliarize
vsto refresh memory
  • US
1 6.5

To learn or help someone remember how to use something again after not using it for a while

is broader, restoring general familiarity rather than specific learned facts
to restudy
vsto refresh memory
3.1

To go over something again to understand or remember it

focuses on self-study methods to regain learning, not external prompting

Antonyms

to forget
∞ 1.0

Not remember something you should remember

How Remembered

to refresh memory
24 3.4
prompt
  • Specialized
4 3.4
hint
229 1.5

Surface Forms

refresh memory infinitive
refreshed memory past
refreshed memory past participle
refreshing memory present participle
refreshes memory third person singular

Morphology

refresh + memory

The meaning 'to help someone remember' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'refresh' (to prompt recall) with 'memory' (the ability to remember). This compositional relation follows a common verb + noun collocational pattern found across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Refresh memory comes from the simple picture of making something fresh again: imagine pouring water on a tired plant to wake it up. When you refresh someone's memory, you give a small reminder so old facts feel new and they can 'remember'.