1
as in to celebrate
to be a memorial of a stone obelisk commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill

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2
as in to bless
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony let's commemorate Martin Luther King Day with readings of some of Dr. King's speeches

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word commemorate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of commemorate are celebrate, keep, and observe. While all these words mean "to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed," commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event.

commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

When could celebrate be used to replace commemorate?

The words celebrate and commemorate can be used in similar contexts, but celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

In what contexts can keep take the place of commemorate?

In some situations, the words keep and commemorate are roughly equivalent. However, keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

When might observe be a better fit than commemorate?

The words observe and commemorate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

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 commemorate Kate Middleton made a last-minute appearance at a special ceremony commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day. Lori A Bashian Fox News, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2025 In 1985, Mexico will commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of its revolution. Miguel De La Madrid H., Foreign Affairs, 28 Jan. 2025 They had been lowered on outgoing-President Joe Biden's orders to commemorate former President Jimmy Carter, who died last month. Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025 In addition those items, Trump signed a proclamation commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Molly Nagle, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for commemorate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commemorate
Verb
  • Hosted by celebrated guitarist Jennifer Batten and genre-defying violinist Lindsey Stirling, the evening will include live performances and presentations celebrating this year’s honorees.
    Holly Alvarado, Orange County Register, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Jennifer Lopez celebrated Benny Medina's big day with a very special accessory!
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trump coined cryptocurrency before seeking to regulate industry Just days before returning to oversee the U.S. Mint, Trump coined his own cryptocurrency Jan. 17 memorializing his response to a July 2024 assassination attempt.
    Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
  • Abandonment, neglect and vandalism endanger the gravesites, and must be dealt with to preserve and properly memorialize them.
    Herb Boyd, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • While McDonald's has previously collaborated with celebrities and athletes like , BTS, and Travis Scott, this marks a shift toward honoring women's sports and athletes like Reese.
    Nathan Kamal, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Storied journalist Peter Maer will be honored with a prestigious award next month in a ceremony that will feature a fireside chat centered around antisemitism.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Even amid some high-profile relationships — real ones will remember the culture-shifting event that was her dating Cara Delevigne for 18 months — Clark has always been private about her personal life.
    James Factora, Them, 3 Feb. 2025
  • The sudden collaboration to solve the issue swiftly, though, is what some involved will remember most.
    Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 3 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Commemorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commemorate. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.

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