memory lane

noun

: an imaginary path through the nostalgically remembered past
—usually used in such phrases as a walk down memory lane
Visiting the old neighborhood was a walk down memory lane.

Examples of memory lane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and recall her first day on the job. — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 The problem is what follows, which are still more trips down memory lane, branching out every which way to dig deeper and deeper into the past. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 In conversation, Almond told us about how the Danceteria album came together and went down memory lane to talk about the New York scene of the ‘80s that inspired the duo’s final statement. — Gary Graff, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026 During Eden’s birth month in 2023, Brolin took a trip down memory lane with a throwback photo of the father-daughter duo. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for memory lane

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of memory lane was in 1903

Rhymes for memory lane

See All Rhymes for memory lane

Browse Nearby Words

memory-hole
memory lane
memory lapse
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Memory lane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memory%20lane. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All