remembrance

noun

re·​mem·​brance ri-ˈmem-brən(t)s How to pronounce remembrance (audio)
 also  -bə-rən(t)s
1
: the state of bearing in mind
2
a
: the ability to remember : memory
b
: the period over which one's memory extends
3
: an act of recalling to mind
4
: a memory of a person, thing, or event
5
a
: something that serves to keep in or bring to mind : reminder
c
: a greeting or gift recalling or expressing friendship or affection
Choose the Right Synonym for remembrance

memory, remembrance, recollection, reminiscence mean the capacity for or the act of remembering, or the thing remembered.

memory applies both to the power of remembering and to what is remembered.

gifted with a remarkable memory
that incident was now just a distant memory

remembrance applies to the act of remembering or the fact of being remembered.

any remembrance of his deceased wife was painful

recollection adds an implication of consciously bringing back to mind often with some effort.

after a moment's recollection he produced the name

reminiscence suggests the recalling of usually pleasant incidents, experiences, or feelings from a remote past.

my grandmother's reminiscences of her Iowa girlhood

Examples of remembrance in a Sentence

a happy couple with many fond remembrances of when they were dating in college she gave her boyfriend on the eve of his military service one of her lockets as a remembrance of their abiding affection
Recent Examples on the Web Flowers and other small tokens of remembrance have piled up outside the police building since the shooting. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Mar. 2024 The Monday afternoon vigil will be co-hosted by Riley’s Alpha Chi Omega sorority at UGA in remembrance of both of the dead students, the university said. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 Standing in solemn remembrance, I was struck by the fragility of society and the resilience of the Rwandan people. The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 In the latest remembrance Krumholtz has shared to social media, the actor recalled his experience with the Disney parade back in 2002, after wrapping on The Santa Clause 2. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2024 Dad truly loved doing this activity with his students, and this is such a welcome reminder and appropriate remembrance!! Brie Stimson, Fox News, 4 Feb. 2024 When a community is forced to grieve publicly, the world is called to witness the complexity of remembrance. Lotoya Francis, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2024 Another man who lay flowers at a memorial said he was beaten by police officers for the small act of remembrance. Valerie Hopkins, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 The ofrenda format is central to Mesa-Bains as an architectural mediator between the living and the dead and a personal place of remembrance. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 13 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'remembrance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of remembrance was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near remembrance

Cite this Entry

“Remembrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/remembrance. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

remembrance

noun
re·​mem·​brance ri-ˈmem-brən(t)s How to pronounce remembrance (audio)
1
: the act of remembering
2
: something remembered
3
a
: something (as a souvenir) that serves to keep in or bring to mind : reminder
b
: something (as a greeting or gift) recalling or expressing friendship

More from Merriam-Webster on remembrance

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