commemorate

[ kuh-mem-uh-reyt ]
See synonyms for commemorate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),com·mem·o·rat·ed, com·mem·o·rat·ing.
  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.

  1. to make honorable mention of.

Origin of commemorate

1
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

Other words from commemorate

  • com·mem·o·ra·ble, adjective
  • com·mem·o·ra·tor, noun
  • un·com·mem·o·rat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use commemorate in a sentence

  • The anti-climax would be too palpable, and they and their doings must be left uncommemorated.

  • Pity it were that virtues so shining should be uncommemorated.

    The Mystery | Stewart Edward White and Samuel Hopkins Adams

British Dictionary definitions for commemorate

commemorate

/ (kəˈmɛməˌreɪt) /


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

Origin of commemorate

1
C16: from Latin commemorāre be mindful of, from com- (intensive) + memorāre to remind, from memor mindful

Derived forms of commemorate

  • commemorative or commemoratory, adjective
  • commemoratively, adverb
  • commemorator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012