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

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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

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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 Forgetting Abraham Lincoln Sarah Browne’s neglect of Lincoln, compared with the ceaseless remembrance of her daughter, did not lessen her desolation over the assassination. JSTOR Daily, 15 Feb. 2025 Special books that Reynolds had bound were given to their authors in remembrance of her, but everything else stayed together as the Mary Reynolds Collection and was gifted to the Art Institute of Chicago (where her brother was a trustee). Karen Chernick, ARTnews.com, 14 Mar. 2025 Choosing that day was an intentional move, delegitimizing the mourning and remembrance of the Jewish community, especially considering Israel’s military response didn’t start in earnest until Oct. 10. Ellia M Torkian, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025 Actual Ad The ad Cambridge sent to individualists depicts rows of U.S. flags in a field, an image widely associated with military sacrifice and remembrances of war. Corey G. Johnson, ProPublica, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for remembrance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for remembrance
Noun
  • The conversation with Carter had unexpectedly stirred up childhood memories of my aunt, a lifelong dieter and weight cycler.
    Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The sisters spent the latter half of their lives sharing memories of his life and supporting the legacy of his career.
    Alex Gurley, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Not only was that the natural way to tell the story from his perspective as a narrator, aware of the tragic events, but that was also a way to grab the audience’s attention, hence his decision as well to insert reminders of the tragedy through the voice over at various intervals.
    Annika Pham, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
  • That Bronny James is one of the healthy ones, again, is a reminder of how much of his journey is already house money, the Lakers rookie surviving a cardiac arrest less than two years ago.
    Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Investigators testified that Mullen gave inconsistent recollections when asked about Fischer during two interviews.
    Cameron Macdonald, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • In 2023, liberals accounted for 32%, moderates 50% and conservatives 18% of Chicago adults, based on respondents’ recollections.
    Will Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The grass beside the memorial was driven over sometime during the night of March 14, leaving deep tire tracks, according to Neil O’Connell, executive director of the Mount Soledad Memorial Association.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The committee in charge of the memorials will be composed of theatre owners in consultation with industry service organizations.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Remembrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/remembrance. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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