commemorate

verb

com·mem·o·rate | \ kə-ˈme-mə-ˌrāt

commemorated; commemorating

Definition of commemorate

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

Other Words from commemorate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about commemorate

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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

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." Some distant older relatives are Old English "gemimor" ("well-known"), Greek mermēra ("care"), and Sanskrit "smarati" ("he remembers"). English speakers have been marking the memory of important events with "commemorate" since the late 16th century.

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

The riverwalk located in the Nakameguro neighborhood was teeming with cherry blossoms and lit pink lanterns to commemorate this awe-inspiring, kaleidoscopic spring celebration. — Ed Droste, Vogue, "Stargazing in Tokyo and Glamping Near Mt. Fuji: Ed Droste’s Epic Japan Travel Diary," 28 May 2019 The president is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Theresa May during his three-day visit as well as attending an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "Prince Charles Plans to Have Tea with Donald Trump," 21 May 2019 The French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi began work on a monument to commemorate the opening of Egypt’s Suez Canal, but the project fell through. — Alexi Lubomirski; Fashion Editor: Joanna Hillman, Harper's BAZAAR, "Diane von Furstenberg Talks Bringing the New Statue of Liberty Museum to Life," 13 May 2019 And to commemorate the event, Spears is officially clearing up the controversy that surrounded her sudden departure from the show. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Jamie Lynn Spears Reveals 'Zoey 101' Didn't Actually End Because She Was Pregnant," 10 Jan. 2019 On that day, the white supremacists are said to take the ferry over to commemorate the martyrdom of a hero to their cause. — Erik Lacitis, The Seattle Times, "‘Bucolic’ Whidbey Island surprised at skinhead headlines — and recent Lynnwood assault," 31 Dec. 2018 To commemorate the end of the season approaching, here's a collection of the best celeb butts to exist on Instagram. 1. — Yerin Kim, Seventeen, "20 Celebs Who Shared Butt Selfies on Instagram," 28 Aug. 2018 Vogueworld Swae Lee Officially Won Nike Air Max Day Yesterday, sneakerheads around the world celebrated Nike’s annual Air Max Day, an anniversary that commemorates the plush shoe’s origins. — Vogue, "Swae Lee Officially Won Nike Air Max Day," 27 Mar. 2019 Good Friday, on April 19, is celebrated next, and that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "Here's How the Date of Easter Is Determined Each Year," 22 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'commemorate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.