commemorate

verb

com·​mem·​o·​rate kə-ˈme-mə-ˌrāt 

commemorated; commemorating

transitive verb

1

: to call to remembrance

St. Andrew is commemorated on November 30.

2

: to mark by some ceremony or observation : observe

commemorate an anniversary

3

: to serve as a memorial of

a plaque that commemorates the battle

commemorator

kə-ˈme-mə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

When you remember something, you are mindful of it. It's appropriate, therefore, that commemorate and other related memory-associated words (including memorable, memorial, remember, and memory itself) come from the Latin root memor, meaning "mindful." English speakers have been marking the memory of important events with commemorate since the late 16th century.

Synonyms

• memorialize
• monumentalize

Choose the Right Synonym for commemorate

keep, observe, celebrate, commemorate mean to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed.

keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

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

Examples of commemorate in a Sentence

The festival commemorates the town's founding.

The plaque commemorates the battle that took place here 200 years ago.

Each year on this date we commemorate our ancestors with a special ceremony.

Recent Examples on the Web

Murky on his history, Doka, who's 12, now associates the dam’s defeat with the annual carnival the tribe holds to commemorate it. —Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 20 Dec. 2024

Over a month before her graduation, Olivia posted two other photos commemorating her time at LSU. —Charna Flam, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Why is a 'Chrismukkah' like this so rare? Christmas, which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, is celebrated on the same day each year. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024

Each summer camp session included the naming of the top cabin and an honor camper in each, a feat commemorated on wooden plaques. —Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin commemoratus, past participle of commemorare, from com- + memorare to remind of, from memor mindful — more at memory

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

commemorate

verb

com·​mem·​o·​rate kə-ˈmem-ə-ˌrāt 

commemorated; commemorating

1

: to call to remembrance

2

: to mark by a ceremony

3

: to be a memorial of

a plaque that commemorates the event

commemorator

-ˌrāt-ər 

noun