commemorate
verb
com·mem·o·rate kə-ˈme-mə-ˌrāt 
commemorated; commemorating
transitive verb
1
: to call to remembrance
St. Andrew is commemorated on November 30.
2
: to mark by some ceremony or observation : observe
commemorate an anniversary
3
: to serve as a memorial of
a plaque that commemorates the battle
commemorator
kə-ˈme-mə-ˌrā-tər
noun 
Did you know?
When you remember something, you are mindful of it. It's appropriate, therefore, that commemorate and other related memory-associated words (including memorable, memorial, remember, and memory itself) come from the Latin root memor, meaning "mindful." English speakers have been marking the memory of important events with commemorate since the late 16th century.
Synonyms
- memorialize
- monumentalize
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The festival commemorates the town's founding. The plaque commemorates the battle that took place here 200 years ago. Each year on this date we commemorate our ancestors with a special ceremony.
Recent Examples on the Web The Huskers' 1970-71 national championship teams held a reunion and Johnny Rodgers was honored on the field to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his winning the Heisman Trophy. 
Eric Olson, ajc, 17 Sep. 2022 Godard received a commission to make a film to commemorate the five-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city of Lausanne, where the Swiss Cinémathèque is located, near his home town of Rolle. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2022 If everything goes right, the dining institution hopes to reopen in late October, just in time to commemorate its 40th anniversary. Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 15 Sep. 2022 The American flag is unfurled on the side of the Pentagon to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, September 11, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. CBS News, 12 Sep. 2022 This is one of the many tributes seen across the world as people continue to commemorate the queen’s legacy. Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 11 Sep. 2022 Around Greater Cincinnati, a number of memorials and events have been planned to commemorate the anniversary. Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 County Executive Barry Glassman will lead county employees in a moment of silence and lay a wreath to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2022 In 2018, The King of Staten Island star honored the memory of his father on the anniversary of his death, sharing several photos to commemorate his legacy. Breanna Bell, PEOPLE.com, 13 July 2022 See More
Eric Olson, ajc, 17 Sep. 2022 Godard received a commission to make a film to commemorate the five-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city of Lausanne, where the Swiss Cinémathèque is located, near his home town of Rolle. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2022 If everything goes right, the dining institution hopes to reopen in late October, just in time to commemorate its 40th anniversary. Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 15 Sep. 2022 The American flag is unfurled on the side of the Pentagon to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, September 11, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. CBS News, 12 Sep. 2022 This is one of the many tributes seen across the world as people continue to commemorate the queen’s legacy. Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 11 Sep. 2022 Around Greater Cincinnati, a number of memorials and events have been planned to commemorate the anniversary. Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 County Executive Barry Glassman will lead county employees in a moment of silence and lay a wreath to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2022 In 2018, The King of Staten Island star honored the memory of his father on the anniversary of his death, sharing several photos to commemorate his legacy. Breanna Bell, PEOPLE.com, 13 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin commemoratus, past participle of commemorare, from com- + memorare to remind of, from memor mindful — more at memory
First Known Use
1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
commemorate
verb
com·mem·o·rate kə-ˈme-mə-ˌrāt
commemorated; commemorating
1
: to observe with a ceremony
commemorate an anniversary
2
: to serve as a memorial of
The statue commemorates the battle.
commemorated
verb
1
as in celebrated
to be a memorial of a stone obelisk commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- celebrated
- memorialized
- remembered
- honored
- monumentalized
- observed
- enshrined
- kept
- consecrated
- blessed
- solemnized
- exalted
- glorified
- sanctified
- blest
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disgraced
- dishonored
2
as in observed
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony let's commemorate Martin Luther King Day with readings of some of Dr. King's speeches Synonyms & Similar Words
- celebrated
- observed
- blessed
- remembered
- kept
- honored
- memorialized
- consecrated
- feted
- praised
- solemnized
- lauded
- sanctified
- fêted
- blest
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- violated
- broke
- ignored
- overlooked
- disregarded
- neglected
- forgot
- transgressed
- blew off
- setting stick
- setting store by
- setting straight
- setting to
- setting up
- setting up as
- setting up as something
- setting up in
- setting up in something
- setting upon
- setting-out machine
- setting-up exercise
- settings
- settle
- settle (down)
- settle (on or upon)
- settle (someone or something) down
- settle (something) on (someone)
- settle a lawsuit
- settle a score
- settle a/the score
- settle accounts with
- settle bed
- settle differences
- settle down