commemorate vs observe

commemorate and observe both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
commemorate	No	No	Yes	No
observe	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, observe is a hypernym of commemorate; that is, observe is a word with a broader meaning than commemorate:

Other hypernyms of commemorate include celebrate, keep.

commemorate (verb)	observe (verb)
call to remembrance; keep alive the memory of someone or something, as in a ceremony	stick to correctly or closely
be or provide a memorial to a person or an event	make mention of
celebrate by some ceremony or observation	watch attentively
	observe with care or pay close attention to
	discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of by perception with the eyes
	follow with the eyes or the mind
	show respect towards
	behave as expected during of holidays or rites
	conform one's action or practice to