memorialize

verb

me·​mo·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈmȯr-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

memorialized; memorializing

transitive verb

1

: to address or petition by a memorial

2

a

: to serve as a memorial of : commemorate

a statue memorializing the event

b

: to do or create something that causes people to remember (a person, thing, or event)

a period in history that has been memorialized in countless films

memorialization

mə-ˌmȯr-ē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌlī-ˈzā-

noun

Synonyms of memorialize

• commemorate

Examples of memorialize in a Sentence

an exciting period in history that has been memorialized in many popular books and movies

at the entrance to the park stands a statue memorializing the novelist Sir Walter Scott

Recent Examples on the Web

The contract spelled out that Grayson is an honorary member of the Falcons and also memorializes the team’s commitment to being a support system for Grayson. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

In this situation, a Probation Violation Notice was subsequently filed which memorialized the defendant's violation of the conditions of his probation. —Dave Savini, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026

Today, the soldiers killed in the Iran-Iraq War are still memorialized in town and city squares across the country. —Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026

When a movie is scrapped in the development stage — as countless have been — it’s usually memorialized by an intern sending a script through the shredder. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for memorialize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

memorialize

verb

me·​mo·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈmōr-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

-ˈmȯr-

memorialized; memorializing

: commemorate sense 1

memorialization

-ˌmōr-ē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌmȯr-

noun