DictionaryAI

meme

MEEM/miːm/

Pluralmemes

Verbmemes, memeing, memed

8 meanings of meme

Practice

  1. 1
    internet jokenouncountable
    A picture, video or bit of text, usually funny, that people copy, change and share online.

    Like a joke that gets passed around and changed a little each time.

    That meme about cats spread to every group chat I'm in.

    In that meme, people swap in a new picture but keep the same words.

    Note
  2. 2
    cultural ideanouncountable
    An idea, habit, or piece of culture that spreads from person to person, a bit like genes pass on traits.

    Like a song that gets stuck in many people's heads and keeps spreading.

    A catchy saying can spread as a meme, jumping from one mind to the next.

    A useful habit can act as a meme, copied by everyone who sees it work.

    Note
  3. 3
    forum challenge entrynouncountable
    A piece of work made and shared after someone in an online group suggests it.

    Like a drawing made for a group art challenge.

    She was tagged in a book meme, so she posted her five favorite novels.

    He answered all the questions in the meme and posted it on his blog.

    Note
  4. 4
    verbtransitive
    To make and share online memes, or to turn someone or something into one.

    Like making a funny picture of someone and sending it everywhere.

    Don't meme my old photo without asking me first.

    They memed the new mascot until everyone online recognized it.

    UsagePeople say a film got memed.

    Note

Practice

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Origin

Richard Dawkins, a British scientist who studies living things, made up this word in his book The Selfish Gene, published in 1976. He cut the longer word "mimeme" short to sound like "gene." Its Greek source means "to imitate."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts