memorialize

verb

me·​mo·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈmȯr-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

memorialized; memorializing

transitive verb

1

: to address or petition by a memorial

2

: commemorate

memorialization

mə-ˌmȯr-ē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌlī-ˈzā-

noun

Synonyms

• commemorate
• monumentalize

Examples of memorialize in a Sentence

an exciting period in history that has been memorialized in many popular books and movies

at the entrance to the park stands a statue memorializing the novelist Sir Walter Scott

Recent Examples on the Web

He was glorified, vilified, the subject of erotic fan fiction, memorialized in tattoo form, memed and plastered onto merch, and endlessly scrutinized. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024

Having the transaction memorialized is a sure-fire antidote to that memory loss. —Barnet Sherman, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

As each name was read aloud, a gradual dawning swept through the room: Many of those memorialized were women of color. —Chelsea Bailey, CNN, 23 Nov. 2024

An Orlando citizen’s advisory board is headed toward preserving a portion of the defunct Pulse nightclub — but not the whole structure — to memorialize the 2016 mass killing there. —Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

memorialize

verb

me·​mo·​ri·​al·​ize mə-ˈmōr-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

-ˈmȯr-

memorialized; memorializing

: commemorate sense 1

memorialization

-ˌmōr-ē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌmȯr-

noun