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
Derived Forms
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uncommemoratedadjective
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commemorativelyadverb
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commemoratornoun
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commemorableadjective
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commemorativeadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have commemoratedperfect
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has commemoratedperfect 3rd person singular
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are commemoratingprogressive
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am commemoratingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been commemoratingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been commemoratingperfect progressive
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commemoratingparticiple
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commemoratessingular 3rd person
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is commemoratingprogressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had commemoratedperfect
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were commemoratingprogressive plural
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was commemoratingprogressive singular
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had been commemoratingperfect progressive
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commemoratedsimple
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commemoratedparticiple
Future
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
Explanation
To commemorate something means to remember something and by doing so to honor it, as in “We would like to commemorate his many years of past service by presenting him with this lovely gold watch.” The word commemorate has a pretty clear echo of memory in it, so it can help to keep it in your mind just by noticing that. You might also notice that you’ve seen the word before, either in late-night infomercials or in various advertisements in magazines, when they talk about commemorative plates, or stamps, or coins: little things that are supposed to honor events or people by recalling them to our collective memory.
Vocabulary lists containing commemorate
Memorial Day Words
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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 5
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Academy Awards, List 2
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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.
The event designed to simultaneously celebrate his 80th birthday and commemorate America’s 250th anniversary will take place in a massive octagon-shaped structure that has been erected on the South Lawn of the White House.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
The $250 bill would commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, according to legislation introduced in the House.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
The 68-year-old had been jailed in China several times for his activism, such as taking part in events to commemorate the Tiananmen Square crackdown.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
“President Trump is accordingly hosting Kevin Warsh’s swearing-in at the White House to appropriately commemorate this historic development for the markets, businesses, and everyday Americans.”
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
No family members sitting shiva, no yahrzeit candle to commemorate his death.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
