memorialize

verb

me·​mo·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈmȯr-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

memorialized; memorializing

transitive verb

1

: to address or petition by a memorial

2

a

: to serve as a memorial of : commemorate

a statue memorializing the event

b

: to do or create something that causes people to remember (a person, thing, or event)

a period in history that has been memorialized in countless films

memorialization

mə-ˌmȯr-ē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌlī-ˈzā-

noun

Synonyms of memorialize

• commemorate

Examples of memorialize in a Sentence

an exciting period in history that has been memorialized in many popular books and movies

at the entrance to the park stands a statue memorializing the novelist Sir Walter Scott

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Long Beach jazz station KKJZ, which also memorialized Johnson’s death, Johnson learned saxophone from his father and attended Westlake School of Music in Los Angeles after his Army service in 1951. — Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Earlier this year, the family gathered in New Haven to see the new headstone and memorialize Horan’s life for the first time. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2026

In 1967, the Old Hollywood icon died in a tragic car accident and was later memorialized by her daughter, Mariska, in the 2025 documentary My Mom Jayne. — Emma Banks, InStyle, 20 July 2026

In several of these instances, Odysseus and his men are not afforded the opportunity to properly bury and memorialize their friends, despite his men’s desire to take the time to do so. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for memorialize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

memorialize

verb

me·​mo·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈmōr-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

-ˈmȯr-

memorialized; memorializing

: commemorate sense 1

memorialization

-ˌmōr-ē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌmȯr-

noun