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

Example Sentences

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

But there's a meaningful reason behind the long weekend: Memorial Day is a federal holiday that commemorates the brave people who died while serving in the U.S. military. —Terri Robertson, Country Living, 28 May 2023

There will be dozens of parades and ceremonies across the state to salute US military veterans and commemorate the lives of those who died in service. —Steven Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2023

The Friday before Memorial Day is designated as National Poppy Day, commemorating service members. —The Enquirer, 26 May 2023

On the closing day of the Scarborough Renaissance Festival, active military members and veterans will be offered a complimentary yellow sash at the Village Armoury to commemorate their service. —Norma Cavazos, Dallas News, 26 May 2023

Sitting at a cafe terrace overlooking a park commemorating the birthplace of the vast oil industry in the western Canadian province of Alberta, Audrey Cerkvenac and Ernestine Dumont, wrestled with a political dilemma. —Ian Austen Amber Bracken, New York Times, 26 May 2023

And to commemorate the anniversary of National Missing Children's Day, the U.S. Department of Justice hosted a ceremony to honor the efforts of agencies, organizations and others that are protecting children and to continue the efforts of reuniting missing children with their families. —Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 25 May 2023

The contest invited school children across the U.K. to design benches for installation around Historic Royal Palace grounds to commemorate the May 6 crowning ceremony. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 24 May 2023

One year later, Uvalde victims' families are still fighting for change Schools in Uvalde, Texas, will be closed Wednesday to commemorate one year since the heartbreaking massacre at Robb Elementary School, the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. —USA TODAY, 24 May 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