Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

commemorate

/kəˈmɛməˌɹeɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.49 in modern English

Syllables: com-mem-o-rate
IPA: /kəˈmɛməˌɹeɪt/

19

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To honour the memory of someone or something with a ceremony or object.

Transitive verb

verb

To serve as a memorial to someone or something.

Transitive verb

adj

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"On November 11th we commemorate the fallen with a march."
"On the anniversary of Korczak's murder, Israel commemorated him with a special postal issue. As a stamp collector and philatelic columnist, it pleased me greatly when other countries followed Israel's example in honoring him."
"The cenotaph commemorates the fallen."
"In almost all the Psalms of praise, we find the preceding distress and afflictions […] first pathetically commemorat."

Etymology

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.

Origin

First known use: First attested in 1599

Usage

Inflected Forms

commemorates (present, singular) commemorating (participle, present) commemorated (participle, past) commemorated (past) more commemorate (comparative) most commemorate (superlative)

Derived Forms

decommemorate uncommemorated

Phrases

memento mori

Frequently Paired Words

commemorabilia commemoration commemorative commemorator commemoratory memorial memory admonish

Synonyms

memorialize remember memorialise immortalize immortalise mark

Questions

How do you pronounce commemorate?: The recorded pronunciation is /kəˈmɛməˌɹeɪt/.
What does commemorate mean?: To honour the memory of someone or something with a ceremony or object.
Where does commemorate come from?: First known use: First attested in 1599.

How to pronounce commemorate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “commemorate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/kəˈmɛməˌɹeɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “commemorate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.