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

Another statue commemorates Rosa Parks, who in 1955 refused to give up her seat and move to the back of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, spurring the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by King and others. —Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025

The day commemorates the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln signing the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on Feb. 1, 1865, according to the California African American Museum. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025

Walton’s alma mater, UCLA, will commemorate Walton’s life before the Bruins’ Feb. 23 game against Ohio State. —Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025

Simu Liu, Michelle Yeoh and more rang in the Year of the Snake on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 Comments Celebrities from all over the world are commemorating the Lunar New Year. —Brendan Le, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025

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