commemorate
gb/kəmˈɛmɚˌeɪt/ us/kəmˈɛmɚˌeɪt/
B2
English
~ 9900
megemlékezik, emléket állít
VERB
B2
1
megemlékezik
B2
Usage pattern:
to commemorate [person/event] with [ceremony/action]
A memorial service was held to commemorate the victims of the attack.
A támadás áldozatainak emlékére emlékistentiszteletet tartottak.
Each year the town organizes a parade to commemorate its founding.
A város minden évben felvonulást rendez alapításának emlékére.
The ceremony was designed to commemorate those who lost their lives in the war.
They planted a tree to commemorate their first year in business.
A minute of silence was observed to commemorate the fallen soldiers.
Learner examples
We lit candles to commemorate our grandparents.
Gyertyát gyújtottunk, hogy megemlékezzünk a nagyszüleinkről.
The city held a big event to commemorate the end of the war.
A város nagy rendezvényt tartott a háború végének emlékére.
Students wrote letters to commemorate the heroes of the past.
People gather every year to commemorate this special day.
They wore black ribbons to commemorate the workers who died.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "commemorate" with "celebrate." "Celebrate" is usually happy and festive, while "commemorate" is often more serious or respectful, especially for deaths or tragic events. Also, do not say *"commemorate about"*; use a direct object: "commemorate the event," not "commemorate about the event." Another common error is mixing it up with "commiserate," which means to share someone's sadness.
Meaning
honor and remember with ceremony
Collocations
commemorate the anniversary
|commemorate the victims
|commemorate the dead
|ceremony to commemorate
|events to commemorate
|day to commemorate
Synonyms
honor (More general; does not always include the idea of a formal event or public remembrance.)
Antonyms
ignore (Fails to show respect or remembrance, instead of marking the person or event.)
Themes
history
|society
|emotion
|core_vocabulary
Definition
to do something special, like a ceremony or event, to remember and honor a person or event
To honor and keep the memory of a person, group, or event alive by holding a ceremony, creating an event, or doing something special.
VERB
C1
2
Usage pattern:
[object] commemorates [person/event]
The statue in the central square commemorates the country's independence.
A főtéren álló szobor az ország függetlenségének állít emléket.
A small plaque on the wall commemorates the writer who once lived there.
A falon lévő kis tábla annak az írónak állít emléket, aki egykor ott lakott.
This museum commemorates the history of the local mining community.
The new bridge commemorates the engineers who designed the original structure.
A simple stone in the garden commemorates their long friendship.
Learner examples
This monument commemorates the soldiers from our town.
Ez az emlékmű a városunkból származó katonáknak állít emléket.
A large stone in the park commemorates the old school that once stood here.
A parkban álló nagy kő emléket állít a régi iskolának, amely egykor itt állt.
The memorial wall commemorates people who died in the accident.
This sculpture commemorates an important moment in the city’s history.
The library building commemorates a famous local teacher.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "commemorate" always means an action like holding a ceremony. In this sense, the subject is often an object: "The statue commemorates the hero," not people. It is wrong to say *"The hero commemorates the statue"* in this meaning.
Meaning
serve as a memorial to
Collocations
statue commemorates
|monument commemorates
|plaque commemorating
|museum commemorates
|memorial commemorating
Synonyms
memorialize (Slightly more formal and technical; strongly tied to creating or being a memorial.)
Antonyms
erase (Removes signs or memories of something, instead of preserving them.)
Themes
history
|culture
|architecture
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
to be something, like a statue or plaque, that reminds people of a person or event
To be or function as a memorial that reminds people of a person, group, or event, especially through a statue, monument, plaque, or building.
Grammar
Dictionary form
commemorate
IPA
GB/kəmˈɛmɚˌeɪt/
US/kəmˈɛmɚˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
com - mem - or - ate (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (mem)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: commemorate
- 3rd Person Singular: commemorates
- Present Participle: commemorating
- Past: commemorated
Word family
Forms
commemorates
verb
commemorating
verb
commemorated
verb
Core family
commemoration
noun
commemorative
adjective
Related words
memorial
noun B1
memorialize
verb C1
Expressions
a day to commemorate
1/ə dˈeɪ tə kəmˈɛmɚˌeɪt/
fixed phrase
day set aside to honor
a special day that people use to honor and remember an event or group of people
Examples
- The government declared May 9 a day to commemorate the end of the war.
- For many families, this is a day to commemorate their ancestors.
- Schools use this as a day to commemorate important human rights leaders.
commemorate the anniversary of
1/kəmˈɛmɚˌeɪt ðə ˌænəvˈɚsɚi əv/
fixed phrase
mark the date of an event
to do something special on the same date as a past event, to remember and honor it
Examples
- Every year they commemorate the anniversary of the earthquake with a candlelight vigil.
- The city held a concert to commemorate the anniversary of its founding.
- A small ceremony was organized to commemorate the anniversary of the peace agreement.
in commemoration of
1/ˈɪn kəmˌɛmɚˈeɪʃən əv/
fixed phrase
formal
as a way to honor
used to say that something is done to honor and remember a person or event
Examples
- The park was built in commemoration of the city's founding.
- They held a concert in commemoration of the victims of the disaster.
- A scholarship fund was created in commemoration of her lifelong work as a teacher.
to commemorate the occasion
1/tə kəmˈɛmɚˌeɪt ðə ɔkˈeɪʒən/
fixed phrase
mark a special event
to do something special so that a particular event will be remembered
Examples
- They took a group photo to commemorate the occasion.
- The company produced a limited-edition book to commemorate the occasion.
- To commemorate the occasion, the mayor gave each guest a small gift.