# remembrance

/ɹiˈmɛmbɹəns/ (US) · /ɹɪmˈɛmbɹəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/remembrance
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the act of remembering

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the act of remembering a person or event, often to show respect.

For teachers: the act of remembering or the state of being remembered, particularly in a collective or commemorative sense.

- The statue was built in remembrance of the soldiers who died in the war.
- The annual service of remembrance provides a space for the community to honour those who lost their lives during the conflict.

Usage: Often follows the preposition 'in' as in 'in remembrance of'.

### 2. a memory or memento

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a specific memory of someone or something, or an object that helps you remember them.

For teachers: a specific recollection or a physical token serving as a memento.

- She kept the old photograph as a remembrance of her childhood home.
- He cherished every small remembrance of their time together, from old ticket stubs to faded postcards.

Teaching tip: In modern English, 'souvenir' or 'memento' is much more common for physical objects; 'remembrance' in this sense feels quite old-fashioned or poetic.

### 3. span of memory

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

the length of time that you can remember things.

For teachers: the reach or period of time covered by one's memory.

- There has not been a storm this strong in living remembrance.
- The elders claimed that no such drought had occurred within the remembrance of any man living in the village.

Teaching tip: Modern speakers almost always use 'living memory' instead of 'living remembrance'.

## Examples

- The statue was built in remembrance of the fallen soldiers.
- Every November, the town holds a service of remembrance to honor those who served in the military.
- The poet's work serves as a lasting remembrance of a rural way of life that has almost entirely vanished in the wake of industrialization.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.