Definition of remembrancenext
1
as in memory
a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered a happy couple with many fond remembrances of when they were dating in college

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in reminder
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event she gave her boyfriend on the eve of his military service one of her lockets as a remembrance of their abiding affection

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word remembrance distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of remembrance are memory, recollection, and reminiscence. While all these words mean "the capacity for or the act of remembering, or the thing remembered," remembrance applies to the act of remembering or the fact of being remembered.

any remembrance of his deceased wife was painful

In what contexts can memory take the place of remembrance?

While in some cases nearly identical to remembrance, memory applies both to the power of remembering and to what is remembered.

gifted with a remarkable memory
that incident was now just a distant memory

When is recollection a more appropriate choice than remembrance?

The meanings of recollection and remembrance largely overlap; however, recollection adds an implication of consciously bringing back to mind often with some effort.

after a moment's recollection he produced the name

Where would reminiscence be a reasonable alternative to remembrance?

The synonyms reminiscence and remembrance are sometimes interchangeable, but reminiscence suggests the recalling of usually pleasant incidents, experiences, or feelings from a remote past.

my grandmother's reminiscences of her Iowa girlhood

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of remembrance During the episode, hopeful contestant Khloe Grace performed a song written in remembrance of Aubreigh. Corin Cesaric, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026 For Konigsberg, remembrance is not only about mourning the dead. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026 The striking bronze sculpture, designed by architect, Kenneth Treister, is at the center of the memorial, which opened in 1990 to be a formal place of remembrance for those with no resting place. Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026 The holiday was previously known as Washington’s Birthday, in remembrance of the nation’s first president. Emery Glover, Des Moines Register, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for remembrance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for remembrance
Noun
  • Pearce has no memory of the accident, nor of the harrowing month that followed.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Those who provided childcare scored higher on memory and verbal fluency tests compared to those who didn’t, even after adjusting for age, health and other factors.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • His candidacy sparked sharp divisions, with supporters portraying him as a symbol of stability and opponents denouncing him as a reminder of authoritarian rule and unresolved war crimes.
    Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
  • For CFOs watching, PayPal’s transition is another reminder that in periods of volatility, boards are often looking first to financial leadership, whether on an interim or permanent basis, to steady the enterprise and reset performance expectations.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Garnett seemed to enjoy listening to the 48-year-old Pierce’s recollections of college.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Others like Medford, who worked at Granite Arch before spending 19 years as general manager at Pipeworks, had a different recollection of Honnold from his childhood climbing days.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Mona’s memorial was held at Skyrim, the family farmhouse perched on a hilltop outside Columbia, Missouri.
    Shannon Taggart, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Dedicated in October 2001 at Hart Plaza in Detroit, along the Riverwalk, the Gateway to Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad is a memorial to the Underground Railroad.
    Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 31 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Remembrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/remembrance. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

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