cremate

verb

cremated; cremating

transitive verb

: to subject to cremation
especially : to reduce (a dead body) to mostly tiny bits of bones resembling ash through exposure to flame and intense heat followed by pulverization of bone fragments
cremate a dead body

Examples of cremate in a Sentence

He wants to be cremated when he dies.
Recent Examples on the Web My mom had requested to be cremated and to have a gathering for family only. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023 Most migrant workers who die without a clear cause are quickly cremated so their ashes can be sent home. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2023 He will be cremated in Boise and buried in San Jose, California, Hayes said. Stephen Smith, CBS News, 4 Sep. 2023 Cedric Lodge allegedly diverted organs and cadaver parts that were supposed to have been cremated under the school’s Anatomical Gift Program between 2018 and August 2022 and sold them to the other participants in the alleged conspiracy, according to court records. John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2023 The orca underwent a necropsy at the University of Georgia, according to the Miami Herald, and the remains will be cremated and sent to the whale's native environment in an agreement with the Lummi Nation. James Powel, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2023 Mexican Mafia foot soldiers guilty of 2017 murder Oct. 13, 2023 Three other bodies were illegally cremated at the unassuming white-gabled funeral home on T Street, the funeral home’s crematory manager told prosecutors. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2023 In every state, remains may be buried, entombed, cremated, donated to science or removed from the state or order to be lawfully disposed of elsewhere. Tanya D. Marsh, The Conversation, 30 June 2023 He was cremated back in March and is housed in a small pine box. Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cremate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin crematus, past participle of cremare to burn up, cremate

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cremate was in 1874

Dictionary Entries Near cremate

Cite this Entry

“Cremate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cremate. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

cremate

verb
cremated; cremating
: to burn (as a dead body) to ashes
cremation noun

Medical Definition

cremate

transitive verb
cre·​mate ˈkrē-ˌmāt How to pronounce cremate (audio) kri-ˈ How to pronounce cremate (audio)
cremated; cremating
: to subject to cremation
especially : to reduce (a dead body) to mostly tiny bits of bones resembling ash through exposure to flame and intense heat followed by pulverization of bone fragments

More from Merriam-Webster on cremate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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