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

Martínez had the man’s body cremated, and stored the ashes in a wooden niche in the shelter’s small chapel. —Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2026

According to the plea agreement, from as early as September 2019 through October 2023, Carie Hallford and her husband failed to cremate or bury at least 190 bodies, despite having collected more than $130,000 from grieving families for funeral services that were never provided. —Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026

The death certificate also states that her body was cremated and her remains were given to her husband. —Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 15 Mar. 2026

Actor Robert Carradine was cremated and his ashes are to be scattered at sea, according to his death certificate released Tuesday. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 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