commemorate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to serve as a memorial or reminder of.
The monument commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
-
to honor the memory of by some observance.
to commemorate the dead by a moment of silence; to commemorate Bastille Day.
-
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
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Academy Awards, List 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Commissioner Bob Crawford hand-delivered a 10-carton shipment to commemorate the event.
From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026
The speech was supposed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which the nation will be celebrating this summer.
From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026
D’Entremont said Carney started the hourlong conversation talking about efforts to encourage the celebration of National Acadian Day, which is meant to commemorate the French settlers in Atlantic Canada.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
The gold coin was never in general circulation, with fewer than 300 produced in 1839 to commemorate the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
Maya and Dilip give the boy a rattle and a baby book, with places for his parents to commemorate every possible aspect of his infancy.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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.
