remind

remind — verb

1. to say something to someone, or give them a sign, that helps them bring to mind

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to say something to someone, or give them a sign, that helps them bring to mind a task, event, or piece of information they need to recall.

Example

Beatrix reminded her brother to take his lunch before he left for school.

remind + object + to-infinitive

The librarian reminded students that the library closes at six o'clock every weekday.

remind + object + that-clause

Common collocations
  • remind someone
  • remind someone to do something
  • remind someone of something
  • remind someone about something
  • gently remind
  • remind someone that
Synonyms
  • prompt

    more immediate — a prompt is often a quick nudge or cue rather than a full reminder

  • cue

    used in performing or speaking contexts, where a signal tells someone what to say or do next

  • nudge

    informal — a gentle reminder, often figurative rather than verbal

Antonyms
  • forget

    the opposite action — forgetting is failing to remember rather than making someone remember

Grammar Patterns

remind + object + to-infinitive

remind + object + that-clause

remind + object + of + noun phrase

remind + object + about + noun phrase

Usage Note

The verb must always be followed by an object (the person being reminded). Common structures are: remind + person + to-infinitive, remind + person + that-clause, and remind + person + of/about + noun phrase.

Common Mistakes

❖ 'I reminded the meeting at three.' ✅ 'I reminded him about the meeting at three.' — Remind always needs an object: the person you tell.

❖ 'She reminded me of that I had to call the doctor.' ✅ 'She reminded me that I had to call the doctor.' — Use a that-clause directly after the object, not 'of that'.

Phrasal verbs

remind of

phrasal verb

To cause someone to think about something or someone from the past because of a similarity.

This song reminds me of our trip to Japan.

Does that building remind you of the one we saw in Paris?

Word family

  • reminder
    nounB1
  • remindful
    adjectiveC2
  • unreminded
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe making someone aware of something, but they differ in intensity and context. 'Remind' is the general term — you can remind someone of a task, an event, or a fact, usually because they might forget. 'Prompt' often suggests a quick verbal or written nudge in a specific moment, such as a teacher prompting a student for an answer. 'Cue' is narrower, used mainly in performance or conversational flow — an actor waits for a cue to speak, or a nod cues someone to continue. 'Nudge' is informal and figurative, implying a gentle push rather than a direct statement. 'Notify' is more formal and usually official, involving a message or announcement about something the person needs to know. For everyday situations where someone might forget a task, 'remind' is the natural choice ('remind me to call Dad'), while 'nudge' works for informal contexts ('She nudged him to reply to the email').

prompt ↗cue ↗nudge ↗notify ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • reminder (noun)
  • reminder note
  • reminder call

Adverbs

Phrases

  • need to remind
  • let me remind
  • just a reminder

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'rememorari' (to recall), combining 're-' (again) and 'memor' (mindful). Entered English through Old French 'remembrer' and gradually simplified to 'remind' by the 17th century, influenced by the native English verb 'mind'.