Learning TipsTier 2: Empirical ResearchBeginner6 min read

How to Stop Forgetting New English Words

Simple daily habits based on memory research that keep new vocabulary in your head for good.

Published by the PicRush Learning Team • Updated 2026-09-16

Quick Summary: What You Will Learn

  • Without review, your brain naturally forgets up to 70% of new words within 48 hours.
  • Reviewing a word right before you forget it resets the memory and makes it much stronger.
  • 10 minutes of daily practice is far more effective than 2 hours of cramming once a week.
  • Using photos and playing with friends makes daily practice easy to turn into a habit.
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1. Why Your Brain Forgets New Words So Quickly

In 1885, a psychologist named Hermann Ebbinghaus ran an experiment on himself to measure how fast human beings forget things. His discovery is known as the 'Forgetting Curve'.

He found that within just one hour of learning something new, you forget about half of it. Within two days, you forget nearly 70%.

Your brain is not broken; it is simply being efficient. Your brain deletes information that it thinks you will never use again. To keep words, you have to show your brain that you need them.

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2. The Secret: Practice Right Before You Forget

The best way to fight the forgetting curve is called 'spaced practice'. Instead of cramming 50 words on a Sunday afternoon, practice 5 to 10 words every single day.

Every time you practice a word just as it starts to fade from your mind, your brain has to work to find it. Each time you do this, the memory lasts longer. Soon, the word moves into your permanent long-term memory.

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3. A Simple 10-Minute Daily Routine with PicRush

You do not need hours of free time to expand your vocabulary. Here is a simple 10-minute routine that works:

Step 1: 2 Minutes Warm-Up. Play 3 quick Solo Sprint rounds on PicRush to wake up your eyes and recall speed.

Step 2: 5 Minutes New Words. Play a couple of new saga levels at your target English level.

Step 3: 3 Minutes Social Fun. Host or join a Party Room with friends. The laughs and friendly competition cement the new words in your memory.

Scientific Sources for This Guide

We base our tips on published cognitive science papers and international language standards:

Main StudyEbbinghaus, H. (1885). Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology. Teachers College, Columbia University.
Supporting ResearchCepeda, N. J., et al. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380.
Curriculum Progression

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Quick, timed sprint rounds designed to train your recall speed and test how fast you can find words.

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Play with Friends

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