commemorate

verb

com·​mem·​o·​rate kə-ˈme-mə-ˌrāt 

commemorated; commemorating

transitive verb

1

: to call to remembrance

St. Andrew is commemorated on November 30.

2

: to mark by some ceremony or observation : observe

commemorate an anniversary

3

: to serve as a memorial of

a plaque that commemorates the battle

commemorator

kə-ˈme-mə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

When you remember something, you are mindful of it. It's appropriate, therefore, that commemorate and other related memory-associated words (including memorable, memorial, remember, and memory itself) come from the Latin root memor, meaning "mindful." English speakers have been marking the memory of important events with commemorate since the late 16th century.

Synonyms

• memorialize
• monumentalize

Choose the Right Synonym for commemorate

keep, observe, celebrate, commemorate mean to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed.

keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event.

commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

Examples of commemorate in a Sentence

The festival commemorates the town's founding.

The plaque commemorates the battle that took place here 200 years ago.

Each year on this date we commemorate our ancestors with a special ceremony.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meloni plans to open a Lord of the Rings exhibition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of author J.R.R Tolkein’s death, La Repubblica reported. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 17 Nov. 2023

To commemorate the parade's 90th year in 2016, Felix made a triumphant return — again filled only with air and carried on stilts. —Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023

Guthrie said the Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial exhibit commemorates Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th, one of the first Civil War regiments of African Americans enlisted in the North. —Thomas Catenacci, Fox News, 15 Nov. 2023

British Vogue’s November 2022 cover featured this deep purple, in tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, which mirrored the March 1952 issue which commemorated the passing of King George VI. WPA Pool/Getty Images WATCH Our bad! —Emma Spedding, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2023

Even today, the English language commemorates Turkey’s cultural acumen. —Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023

Armistice Day, also known as Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth and Veterans Day in the U.S., is commemorated every year to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Nov. 2023

The flag was raised to commemorate Native American Heritage Month, which takes place during November. —Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2023

Dominique Janee: So there was nothing to commemorate such a life. —Dominique Janee, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Latin commemoratus, past participle of commemorare, from com- + memorare to remind of, from memor mindful — more at memory

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

commemorate

verb

com·​mem·​o·​rate kə-ˈmem-ə-ˌrāt 

commemorated; commemorating

1

: to call to remembrance

2

: to mark by a ceremony

3

: to be a memorial of

a plaque that commemorates the battle

commemorator

-ˌrāt-ər 

noun