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 University of Indiana is paying a sculptor $195,000 to memorialize legendary Hoosiers basketball coach Bob Knight, according to public records seen by Sportico. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 19 June 2026

Mangione no longer has to turn over those records and Judge Gregory Carro ruled court documents memorializing the defense legal strategy will no longer be unsealed. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 18 June 2026

The movement that began on Chicago's South Side will now be permanently memorialized there. —Chris Tye, CBS News, 18 June 2026

Momentum on the petition comes as the Obamas' legacy in Chicago is being memorialized at the Obama Presidential Center, opening June 19. —Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 17 June 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