commemorate
kuh-MEM-uh-rayt
/kəˈmeməreɪt/
To recall and show respect for someone or something in an official ceremony or public act.
Always involves a deliberate, usually solemn or celebratory public act of collective remembering.
The story behind the word. From Latin commemoratus, past participle of commemorare ('to bring to mind'), combining com- ('together') and memorare ('to mention'). It meant bringing people together to keep a memory alive.
Word relationships
- revere: Revere is an emotion of deep respect, while commemorate is an active public gesture of remembrance.
- forget: To forget is to fail to remember, whereas commemorate is an intentional action to honor memory.
Commonly confused with
- celebrate: Celebrate implies joy and festivity, whereas commemorate can be solemn, focusing on honoring memory.
Word family
- commemoration (noun): A ceremony in memory of a person or event.
- commemorative (adjective): Serving as a memorial or mark of honor.
Collocations
- commemorate an anniversary
- commemorate the fallen
- commemorate a victory
Idioms & expressions
- in commemoration of
Example sentences
- "A brass plaque was erected to commemorate the brave individuals who fought for national independence." Public monument
Memory hook
Bring MEMORIES together (com-) to COMMEMORATE. Remembering together with honor.
When not to use
Do not use for casually remembering where you left your keys.
Fun facts
- Commemorative coins have been minted since ancient Rome, where emperors struck coins showing historical victories to outlast their reign.
Related words
Also appears in
- Travel & Culture → Festivals & Celebrations
- Time & History → Memory & Forgetting
- Time & History → Commemoration & Remembrances
- Occasions, Holidays & Parties → Birthdays & Aging
- Romance, Dating & Marriage → Honeymoons & Anniversaries
- Occasions, Holidays & Parties → Funerals, Wakes & Memorials
- Occasions, Holidays & Parties → Retirement Celebrations
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