commemorate
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to remember an important person or event by having a special ceremony or event.
to honour the memory of a person or event through a formal ceremony or public observance.
Simple“Every year, the town holds a parade to commemorate the end of the war.”
In context“The university held a private service to commemorate the founding members who had dedicated their lives to the institution.”
UsageThis verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually the event or person being remembered.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to be a physical object, like a statue or a plaque, that helps people remember someone.
to serve as a physical memorial or lasting tribute to a person, group, or historical event.
Simple“A small stone plaque was placed in the park to commemorate the local poet.”
In context“The massive bronze sculpture was commissioned to commemorate the victims of the natural disaster and stands as a symbol of resilience.”
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'celebrate'; remind them that 'commemorate' is more formal and often used for serious or somber occasions.
Synonyms
“The Andoque still commemorate this episode in a ceremonial dance to shield themselves from violence of non-Indigenous origin.”
“Even though the Bible doesn't specifically mention this, for Católicos it commemorates the day the Virgin Mary entered heaven, and it’s traditionally honoured with church masses across the country.”
First attested in 1599; borrowed from Latin commemorātus, perfect passive participle of commemorō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Sporadic usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.