commemorate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to serve as a memorial or reminder of.
The monument commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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to honor the memory of by some observance.
to commemorate the dead by a moment of silence; to commemorate Bastille Day.
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to make honorable mention of.
verb
Other Word Forms
- commemorable adjective
- commemorative adjective
- commemoratively adverb
- commemorator noun
- uncommemorated adjective
Etymology
Origin of commemorate
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin commemorātus “recalled,” past participle of commemorāre “to recall, put on record,” from com- com- + memor “mindful” + -āre, infinitive verb suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That includes Rockefeller Center, the parks and Ground Zero to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
“You’re already on the bridge, you’re already part of the art—why would you tie trash to commemorate it?”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
Pratt, a Republican, first revealed his mayoral ambitions during an event called “They Let Us Burn!” that was held in L.A. in early January to commemorate the first anniversary of the wildfires.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026
West Brom captain Darren Fletcher presented Pulis with a Ship's Decanter at the club's training ground to commemorate his 1,000th match as a manager, the day before they played his old club Stoke.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
He never had a headstone to commemorate his life.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
