Meaning & use
token of remembrance
Last updated
Meanings
phrasecountable
a small object or act that shows you remember and honor someone or something
Grammar: Countable: use 'a' or make it plural ('tokens of remembrance').
Patterns
- a token of remembrance for someone
- a token of remembrance of something
The family planted a tree as a token of remembrance for the victims.
People left flowers and candles as tokens of remembrance at the site.
The museum displayed a simple wooden cross, a token of remembrance from the war.
phrasecountable
a symbolic reminder of a person or event, often worn or kept
Grammar: Often used with 'wear' or 'keep': wear a token of remembrance.
Patterns
- wear a token of remembrance
- keep something as a token of remembrance
Many people wear a red poppy as a token of remembrance in November.
She kept his watch as a private token of remembrance.
The badge served as a token of remembrance for the fallen soldiers.
Word forms
| plural | tokens of remembrance |
|---|
Common combinations
- a token of remembrance for somebody
- They held a small ceremony as a token of remembrance for the lost sailors.
- wear a token of remembrance
- He wears a black armband as a token of remembrance.
- leave a token of remembrance
- Visitors may leave a token of remembrance at the memorial.
- a fitting token of remembrance
- A moment of silence is a fitting token of remembrance.
Synonyms and how they differ
- memento
- A memento is a personal object kept to remember a person or event; it is less formal and not necessarily symbolic.
- souvenir
- A souvenir is something you buy or keep to remember a place or holiday; it lacks the solemn, honoring tone of 'token of remembrance'.
- memorial
- A memorial is a structure or event that honors someone; a token of remembrance is smaller and more personal.
Word family
- remember verb
- to keep something in your mind or bring it back to mind
- remembrance noun
- the act of remembering or honoring someone
- token noun
- a small sign or object that represents something else
Commonly confused: token of remembrance or token of appreciation?
token of remembrance vs token of appreciation
A token of appreciation is a small gift or gesture that shows thanks, not memory or honor.
Practice
The community built a small monument as a ______ for the workers who died in the accident.
Choose one answer.
'Token of remembrance' fits because the monument honors people who died. 'Token of appreciation' is about thanks, 'souvenir' is a holiday keepsake, and 'memento' is usually a personal object, not a public monument.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “token of remembrance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.