commemorate

American  

[kuh-mem-uh-reyt] / kəˈmɛm əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

commemorated, commemorating

1. to serve as a memorial or reminder of.

   The monument commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

2. to honor the memory of by some observance.

   to commemorate the dead by a moment of silence; to commemorate Bastille Day.

3. to make honorable mention of.

---

commemorate British  

/ kəˈmɛməˌreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to honour or keep alive the memory of

---

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

“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

To commemorate Halimi, whose abduction and murder in 2006 horrified France, Macron planted an oak tree in the garden of the Elysee Palace, joined by Halimi's sister, Anne-Laure Abitbol.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

At Camp Half-Blood, demigods got bead necklaces to commemorate years of training.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• celebrate
• memorialize
• observe
• remember
• salute