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 actor, who played Jesse Pinkman in the AMC series, took to social media to memorialize Mitte. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

On Tuesday, Spain's royals will attend a ceremony at a Muslim cemetery in the city to memorialize the more than 140 migrants who died attempting to cross in July. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

This past February, the Chicago Park District announced that Mother Francis Xavier Cabrini would be memorialized in a new monument in Arrigo Park, located at Polk and Loomis streets. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026

Helena, the mother of the Byzantine emperor Constantine, aided this process by commissioning shrines such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where Christians still memorialize important events in Jesus’ life and ministry. — Shay Rabineau, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 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