cremate

verb

cre·​mate ˈkrē-ˌmāt  kri-ˈmāt 

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

Max Silnicki, who runs the Washington Avenue Barber Shop, shaved the heads of 10,000 Jews in Nazi concentration camps before they were cremated. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026

The remains of the tigers went through necropsies before being cremated and buried. —Wasamon Audjarint, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026

Investigators said it was likely used by the cartel as a training ground, with recruits who failed to measure up being killed and cremated on the site. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026

The company worked with the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) and animal control to identify and cremate the recovered pets. —Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cremate

verb

cre·​mate ˈkrē-ˌmāt  kri-ˈmāt 

cremated; cremating

: to burn (as a dead body) to ashes

cremation

kri-ˈmā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

cremate

transitive verb

cre·​mate ˈkrē-ˌmāt  kri-ˈ 

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