remembrance

American  

[ri-mem-bruhns] / rɪˈmɛm brəns /

noun

• remembrances
  plural

1. a retained mental impression; memory.

   Synonyms:

   reminiscence, recollection

2. the act or fact of remembering.

3. the power or faculty of remembering.

   Synonyms:

   memory

4. the length of time over which recollection or memory extends.

5. the state of being remembered; commemoration.

   to hold someone's name in remembrance.

6. something that serves to bring to mind or keep in mind some place, person, event, etc.; memento.

   Synonyms:

   memorial, token, souvenir, trophy, keepsake

7. a gift given as a token of love or friendship.

   I sent her a small remembrance on Mother's Day.

8. remembrances, greetings; respects.

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remembrance British  

/ rɪˈmɛmbrəns /

noun

1. the act of remembering or state of being remembered

2. something that is remembered; reminiscence

3. a memento or keepsake

4. the extent in time of one's power of recollection

5. 1. the act of honouring some past event, person, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a remembrance service

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonremembrance
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• remembrances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of remembrance

1300–50; Middle English < Old French; see remember, -ance

Explanation

Remembrance is when someone remembers things — your grandfather might have uncanny remembrance of his childhood, for example. The noun remembrance is really just another way to say "memory." It's the process of remembering things that happened in the past. In Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," the character of Ophelia famously says, "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." The smell of the herb has actually been shown to improve memory, and has historically been a symbol of remembrance. Early uses of remembrance had the meaning "keepsake or souvenir."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

remembrance remembrances

When McCain died in 2018, Graham delivered a tearful remembrance of his friend on the Senate floor and then came up to the press gallery for a question-and-answer session with reporters.

From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026

About 200 people wore red while taking part in a 5,000km run held in remembrance of Arsenal football fan Henry Nowak, the event's organiser said.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

Hunter Sixkiller, who is part of the Blinn program, said he participated in Texas A&M traditions like the football game-day “Midnight Yell,” and “Muster,” a remembrance of students who died.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

To Cohen’s mind, establishing an annual day of remembrance for The Beatles made perfect sense.

From Salon ● Jun. 4, 2026

Nel giggled at the remembrance of that teen-time tale.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

“The Boys of Dungeon Lane” begins with “As You Lie There,” his fond remembrances about a schoolboy crush.

From Salon ● May 12, 2026

Savannah also shared a photo on Instagram of yellow flowers from the growing memorial with remembrances by neighbors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026

He launches a passionate defence of preserving remembrances of the past, even if that past is "problematic" as a way of "ensuring public memory of its injustice".

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025

Many remembrances circulating since Reiner’s shocking murder cite the significance of Meathead and Archie Bunker’s commitment to coexist, however uncomfortable that was in such close quarters.

From Salon ● Dec. 21, 2025

“I have all my remembrances of him and how he loved my mama,” she crowed.

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Related Words

• commemoration
• memento
• memorial
• reminder