The tip-of-the-tongue state (TOT)is the phenomenological experience that a word is on the verge of being recalled. Most research has been directed at TOT etiology and at retrieval processes occurring during a TOT. In this study, TOT phenomenology was examined. In Experiment 1, strong TOTs were more likely than weak TOTsto be followed by correct recognition, and resolution (later recall) of TOTs was higher for strong than for weak TOTs, but only for commission errors. In Experiment 2, emotional TOTswere more likely to be resolved and recognized than nonemotional TOTs. In Experiment 3, imminence was defined as the feeling that retrieval is about to occur. Imminent TOTswere more likely to be followed by resolution and recognition than were nonimminent TOTs.lIIusory TOTs(TOTsfor unanswerable questions) tended to be weaker, less emotional, and less imminent than TOTsfor answerable questions.18