noun
Common
archive
AH-kyv
Archive (noun) means a place or collection where historical documents or records are stored. Example: “The museum opened its archive so visitors could see photographs of the old harbour.”
noun
1
A place or collection where historical documents or records are stored.
"The museum opened its archive so visitors could see photographs of the old harbour."
"The old letters are kept in the city archive."
"Researchers spent weeks digging through the newspaper archive."
verb
1
To store something away, often digitally, for future reference rather than everyday use.
"We archive every finished project so the files are safe but out of the way."
"The library plans to archive its old newspapers on a secure server."
"Please archive last year's emails to free up space."
How to use archive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA stored collection of records, or the act of putting something into storage.
Common mistake
As a verb, "archive" means to store something away, not to delete it — an archived file or email can usually still be retrieved.
Common pairings
digital archive
archive a file
national archive
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Word forms
- Plural
- archives
- Third person singular
- archives
- Past tense
- archived
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum opened its _____ so visitors could see photographs of the old harbour.
Etymology
From French archives, from Latin archivum, from Greek arkheion, "town hall" — the place where official records were kept.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for archive
See all rhymes for archive →Frequently asked questions
What does “archive” mean?
The word “archive” means a place or collection where historical documents or records are stored. In plain terms, a stored collection of records, or the act of putting something into storage.
How do you pronounce “archive”?
“Archive” is pronounced AH-kyv (/ˈɑɹkaɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “archive” in a sentence?
Here is “archive” used in a sentence: “The old letters are kept in the city archive.”
What part of speech is “archive”?
Depending on how it is used, “archive” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “archive” come from?
The word “archive” comes from Latin. From French archives, from Latin archivum, from Greek arkheion, "town hall" — the place where official records were kept.
Is “archive” a common word?
“Archive” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “archive” have?
“Archive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a place or collection where historical documents or records are stored.
What is the difference between an archive and a library?
An archive is a place or collection where historical documents and records are stored, often unique or original materials kept for reference. A library mainly holds published works such as books and magazines for reading and borrowing. In short, archives preserve records, while libraries circulate publications.
What is the difference between archiving and deleting?
Archiving stores something away, often digitally, so it can be retrieved later; deleting removes it. If there is any chance you will need a file, message, or record again, archiving is the safer choice.
Is it archive or archives?
Both are correct. The plural archives is traditional for an institution or collection of historical records, as in 'the national archives,' while the singular archive is also standard, especially in computing contexts such as an email archive or a photo archive.
