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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Several events on Friday will be held in remembrance of the 17 students and staff who died in the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland. Lisa J. Huriash, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2025 Its popular posts, which routinely get thousands of likes, range from you-are-there recollections of legendary clubs like Studio 54 and The Saint to remembrances of first apartments, first loves and first losses in the AIDS epidemic. Brian M. Sloan, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2025 As in, to name is to announce worthy of remembrance. Reginald Dwayne Betts, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2025 The club scheduled a remembrance skate for Tuesday evening. Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for remembrance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for remembrance
Noun
  • Grief’s common phases (poring over old photos, sharing beloved memories) coexist with local rituals, all while Anand’s hidden desires materialize in a rekindled friendship with childhood companion Balya.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Donations in her memory may be made to Gray for Glioblastoma or New York Women in Film & Television.
    Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Win or lose, Alderman John Moran, who moderated the event forum, closed the event offering a reminder for people to remain engaged in their communities.
    Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
  • In the past decade, the rise of majoritarian autocratic rulers, the elections of President Donald Trump in the United States, and the leaping gains of the far right in Europe were all reminders of the abiding power of nationalism.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Olson, 96, shared her recollections on a recent episode of It Happened in Hollywood, The Hollywood Reporter‘s eyewitness film history podcast.
    Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Many in attendance were taken aback by the tone of proceedings, with mentions of overcoming obstacles and recollections of triumphing over adversity, when some of those present will not be in position to meet the challenges of the future.
    Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The central portion of the memorial will contain a reflection pool where the club’s dance floor was located.
    Silas Morgan, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Not quite 24 hours later, Duarte Matarese found herself in front of the West York Borough Police Department visiting a memorial of flowers, candles and balloons set up by community members.
    Maya Eaglin, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Remembrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/remembrance. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

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