suddenly remember

USAGE SUMMARY

"suddenly remember" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an abrupt recollection of something. For example: "I suddenly remembered my sister's birthday and realized I had completely forgotten to buy her a present."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The father interjected, saying: "After this fight, he'll suddenly remember.

The New York Times - Sports

You suddenly remember why you got into the business.

The New York Times

We suddenly remember why many of us didn't want them around in the first place.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I'm fanatical about other shows and you suddenly remember 'of course people love it'.

Independent

It made Mr. Quispe suddenly remember the soup his mother used to make.

The New York Times

I suddenly remember the ticket I've just got for parking legally outside my own door.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mr. Johns, you suddenly remember, doesn't just create visual objects, he creates situations, events.

The New York Times - Arts

On the eve of trial, detectives may suddenly remember undocumented incriminating statements made months before.

The New York Times - Books

If they suddenly remember they're in London in 2007, then we've failed".

The Guardian

When someone mentions the actor Alec Guinness, "I suddenly remember how Guinness wrote me that fan letter".

The New York Times - Books

With Warmack, a rookie, opening holes for him, Johnson could suddenly remember what being downfield felt like.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suddenly remember" to describe a moment of unexpected recollection. This phrase effectively conveys the spontaneity and surprise of remembering something you had previously forgotten.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses when using "suddenly remember". For example, instead of "I was walking and suddenly remember…", use "I was walking and suddenly remembered…" to maintain consistency.

Linguistic Context

Suddenly remember functions as a verb phrase indicating an abrupt and spontaneous act of recalling something. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts to describe this sudden recollection.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Academia

6%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "suddenly remember" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to describe an abrupt recollection. According to Ludwig, it functions as a verb phrase and often serves to add emphasis to the spontaneous nature of remembering. The phrase is appropriate for news media, academic writing and informal communications. While alternatives like "recall unexpectedly" exist, "suddenly remember" effectively conveys surprise. Remember to maintain tense consistency for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come to me suddenly

Simple rephrasing, focusing on the suddenness of the memory's arrival.

recall unexpectedly

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the recall.

all at once recall

Emphasizes the simultaneity of the remembering.

abruptly recollect

Emphasizes the suddenness and formality of remembering.

out of the blue remember

Highlights the unexpectedness and surprise of the recollection.

flash back to

Suggests a vivid and sudden return to a past memory.

it hits me that

Indicates a sudden realization of something previously unknown or forgotten.

it dawns on me

Implies a gradual realization that comes suddenly.

spring to mind

Highlights how the memory spontaneously arises.

the penny drops

An idiom indicating a sudden understanding or realization.

FAQs

How to use "suddenly remember" in a sentence?

You can use "suddenly remember" to describe an abrupt recollection. For example, "I was walking down the street and I "suddenly remembered" that I had a dentist appointment."

What can I say instead of "suddenly remember"?

You can use alternatives like "recall unexpectedly", "flash back to", or "it dawns on me" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "suddenly remember" or should I use a different tense?

The phrase "suddenly remember" is grammatically correct in the present tense. However, depending on the context, using the past tense ("suddenly remembered") or future tense ("will suddenly remember") may be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "suddenly remember" and "finally remember"?

"Suddenly remember" implies a spontaneous and unexpected recollection, while "finally remember" suggests that the memory was difficult to retrieve and only came to mind after some effort or delay.