reminder

noun

re·​mind·​er ri-ˈmīn-dər 

plural reminders

: one that reminds: such as

a

: something that calls a memory or thought to the mind

a picture that's a reminder of happier times

There were reminders of him everywhere. Whenever she heard music, or when she played the guitar he had given her, Felicity thought of her grandfather's gravelly voice singing along, happily out of tune.

—Valerie Tripp

Now a quarter of mortgaged American homes are underwater, and movie montages about cashmere sheets are an irksome reminder of how we can't afford them.

—Sarah Ball

b

: something (such as a note or notification) designed to prompt or aid the memory

She wrote a reminder about the meeting in her calendar.

I run the risk of missing a reminder because I often silence my phone when I am on the air or recording in the studio.

—Cat Wilson

Synonyms

• commemorative
• keepsake
• memento
• memorial
• monument
• remembrance
• souvenir
• token

Examples of reminder in a Sentence

the peach tree in our front yard is a living reminder of my late grandfather, who owned an orchard

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a collection of various ornaments that immigrants brought from Haiti to serve as a reminder that nostalgia always played an important role in the neighborhood’s existence. —Alie Skowronski, Miami Herald, 11 May 2024

Women and Children First serves as a reminder that not only do our actions and choices effect change, but so too do our stories. —Kristen Martin, NPR, 11 May 2024

As a reminder, USA TODAY Coupons provides discounts at thousands of retailers. —USA TODAY, 10 May 2024

Affixed with a corset of 3D flowers, the gown featured falling petals—a reminder of the fleeting cherry blossom season. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 7 May 2024

This is your reminder that arming our teachers will not solve America’s gun violence problem. —Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 7 May 2024

Whatever your politics, that is a sobering reminder of human brutality. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2024

The deaths of two kayakers who drowned after their boats capsized going over the dam April 16 was a stark reminder of the risks these structures pose. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 6 May 2024

Together, the two contempt rulings were the latest reminder of the extraordinary lengths to which judges have gone to keep Mr. Trump from lashing out at participants in his various legal entanglements. —William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 6 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above