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

Though Reiner was memorialized at the Oscars earlier this year, there’s a nice bit of closure to his Emmys win that pays tribute to the medium that started it all for him more than 50 years ago. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

The new Chicago staging follows a successful United Kingdom tour in 2024, directed by Michael Buffong, whom Epps said had discovered the show while sitting in New York’s Lincoln Center library, where Broadway musicals are memorialized. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Biddy Mason was previously honored in 1989, when a mini-park off Spring and 3rd streets was built to memorialize her on her original homestead. — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

The tragic day, etched into the minds of many Americans, has since been memorialized in classroom textbooks, anniversary broadcasts, museums and the stories told by survivors. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 1 Sep. 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