remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled.
remembers that day as though it were yesterday
recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.
as near as I can recollect
recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.
can't recall the words of the song
remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.
that reminds me of a story
reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.
old college friends like to reminisce
Example Sentences
Verb (1) I've been trying to recollect what happened. I don't recollect telling him anything, but maybe I did. She couldn't recollect who had mentioned his name in the first place. From what I recollect, they said four of them were coming.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The voice in the background of too many memories to recollect. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2022 First, if the hiring manager struggles to recollect a specific high performer example, that's troublesome. Mark Murphy, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Hays, on the contrary, had feigned not to recollect quizzing dozens of students on their times tables, the prosecutor reminded the judge.oregonlive, 6 June 2022 Thanks for giving me a reason to go back in time and to recollect a nice memory. Demetria Gallegos, WSJ, 14 May 2022 Ask those who recollect the eight years George H.W. Bush served as vice president.Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2021 Simmers told Dateline that through the investigation, witnesses were eventually questioned, but most could only recollect hearing books falling.NBC News, 28 Nov. 2021 Jimin apologized before taking a breath to recollect himself.NBC News, 20 Sep. 2021 As the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics draw to a close today, many will recollect some of this year’s highlights and look ahead to the next games due to be held in Paris in a little under three years from now. Gus Alexiou, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Medieval Latin recollectus, past participle of recolligere, from Latin, to gather again
Verb (2)
partly from Latin recollectus, past participle of recolligere, from re- + colligere to collect; partly from re- + collect