commemorate
kuh-MEH-muh-rayt
Commemorate (verb) means to honor the memory of a person or event, typically with a ceremony, object, or tradition. Example: “The town holds a parade every year to commemorate its founding.”
verb
1
To honor the memory of a person or event, typically with a ceremony, object, or tradition.
"On the anniversary of Korczak's murder, Israel commemorated him with a special postal issue. As a stamp collector and philatelic columnist, it pleased me greatly when other countries followed Israel's example in honoring him."
— Naava Piatka, No Goodbyes: A Father-Daughter Memoir of Love (2009)
"On November 11th we commemorate the fallen with a march."
"The town holds a parade every year to commemorate its founding."
"A plaque was unveiled to commemorate the workers who built the bridge."
How to use commemorate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo mark or honor the memory of something important, often through a ceremony or memorial.
Common pairings
commemorate an anniversary
commemorate the fallen
held to commemorate
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- commemorates
- Past tense
- commemorated
- Comparative
- more commemorate
- Superlative
- most commemorate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The town holds a parade every year to _____ its founding.
Etymology
From Latin commemorare, from com- + memorare ("to bring to mind"), related to "memory."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for commemorate
See all rhymes for commemorate →Frequently asked questions
What does “commemorate” mean?
The word “commemorate” means to honor the memory of a person or event, typically with a ceremony, object, or tradition. In plain terms, to mark or honor the memory of something important, often through a ceremony or memorial.
How do you pronounce “commemorate”?
“Commemorate” is pronounced kuh-MEH-muh-rayt (/kəˈmɛməˌɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “commemorate” in a sentence?
Here is “commemorate” used in a sentence: “The town holds a parade every year to commemorate its founding.”
What part of speech is “commemorate”?
“Commemorate” is a verb.
Where does the word “commemorate” come from?
The word “commemorate” comes from Latin. From Latin commemorare, from com- + memorare ("to bring to mind"), related to "memory.".
Is “commemorate” a common word?
“Commemorate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
