Definition of remembrancenext
1
as in memory
a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered a happy couple with many fond remembrances of when they were dating in college

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in reminder
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event she gave her boyfriend on the eve of his military service one of her lockets as a remembrance of their abiding affection

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word remembrance distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of remembrance are memory, recollection, and reminiscence. While all these words mean "the capacity for or the act of remembering, or the thing remembered," remembrance applies to the act of remembering or the fact of being remembered.

any remembrance of his deceased wife was painful

In what contexts can memory take the place of remembrance?

While in some cases nearly identical to remembrance, memory applies both to the power of remembering and to what is remembered.

gifted with a remarkable memory
that incident was now just a distant memory

When is recollection a more appropriate choice than remembrance?

The meanings of recollection and remembrance largely overlap; however, recollection adds an implication of consciously bringing back to mind often with some effort.

after a moment's recollection he produced the name

Where would reminiscence be a reasonable alternative to remembrance?

The synonyms reminiscence and remembrance are sometimes interchangeable, but reminiscence suggests the recalling of usually pleasant incidents, experiences, or feelings from a remote past.

my grandmother's reminiscences of her Iowa girlhood

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of remembrance The company plans to hold a more extensive remembrance in the future. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026 South-View Cemetery remains a place of remembrance and reflection, standing as a record of Black Atlanta's past and the determination of those who fought to claim dignity in death. Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026 After her death, there was an outpour of remembrances and tributes from the Hollywood community. Jack Dunn, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026 An outpouring of remembrances from fans and celebrities across Hollywood were shared following news of O’Hara’s death. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for remembrance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for remembrance
Noun
  • The first glimpse of La Sultana’s imposing fortress is a moment for the memory books.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026
  • But hospital staff who treated the man told The Associated Press such a fall could not plausibly account for the man’s brain hemorrhaging and fragmented memory.
    Jim Mustian, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Her elegant collaboration was a reminder that the world has long created the kinds of crises that threaten our stability today, and a good artist finds a way to make work that shows us a way through it, even if the answer is as simple as making something beautiful.
    Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Grand, crumbling ruins stand as a striking reminder that Oualidia was once a favorite place of the nation’s last Sultan, and the legacy of his beloved royal beach lingers.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The court hearings make evident that Hein’s memories of his youth sharply differ from the recollections shared by witnesses.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Although his bitter and often hilarious takedowns of enemies are juicy, Evans’s surprisingly tender recollections of dear friends are even better.
    Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Inside Iran, memorials for those killed continue across the country.
    Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
  • The memorials are the site of candlelight vigils and musical performances and draw a regular stream of visitors.
    JACK BROOK, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Remembrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/remembrance. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

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