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Definition of commemorate

commemorate

/kəˈmɛm.ə.ɹeɪt/
com · mem · o · rate
Adjective:commemorative
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Past Simple:commemorated
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Past Participle:commemorated
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Present Participle:commemorating
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commemorate Lexical Profile

commemorate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To recall and show respect for a person or event, especially through an official ceremony, celebration, or public observance.

Example

"Every autumn, the town gathers in the main square to commemorate the founding of the university."

2

To serve as a memorial or tangible reminder of a person, achievement, or historical event (of a monument, plaque, stamp, or work of art).

Example

"A bronze plaque on the library wall commemorates the scholars who established the archive."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for commemorate

• Nearby Words

commandingly
commandment
commando
commemorate
commemoration
commemorative
commemoratively

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 16th century from Latin commemoratus, the past participle of commemorare ('to bring to remembrance'), formed from com- ('altogether') and memorare ('to relate or remember'), from memor ('mindful').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Commemorate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/commemorate
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