christened; christening
ˈkri-sə-niŋ 
ˈkris-niŋ
1
a
: baptize sense 1
was christened when he was three months old
b
: to name at baptism
They christened the baby Anne.
2
: to name or dedicate (something, such as a ship) by a ceremony that often involves breaking a bottle of champagne
3
: name sense 1
The newspaper christened her as the reigning Queen of Tennis.
4
: to use for the first time
They christened the new ballpark with a win.
Examples of christen in a Sentence
He was christened when he was three months old.
They christened the baby Anna.
The politician was chosen to christen a new ship.
The newspaper has christened her as the reigning Queen of Tennis.
They christened the new ball park with a win.
Recent Examples on the Web
Also christening the new space will be the sale of the Evan Lobel Collection, featuring more than 200 objects of 20th-century design and works by Andy Warhol, as well as an exhibition of modern Cuban painters including Wifredo Lam and Mario Carreño.
—
Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
By the late Nineties, when the media had christened the police force as the Davao Death Squad, or DDS, Duterte enjoyed the allegiance of almost every barangay captain in the city.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Jurie, christened ‘Ju-Ju’ for her stutter, joins them.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Once godmother Libby Anschutz (daughter of Windstar owner Phil Anschutz) christened the ship and celebratory fireworks had faded from the night sky, Star Seeker departed on an eight-night voyage to San Juan, Puerto Rico, with port calls in the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands.
—Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for christen
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
By the late Nineties, when the media had christened the police force as the Davao Death Squad, or DDS, Duterte enjoyed the allegiance of almost every barangay captain in the city.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Jurie, christened ‘Ju-Ju’ for her stutter, joins them.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Once godmother Libby Anschutz (daughter of Windstar owner Phil Anschutz) christened the ship and celebratory fireworks had faded from the night sky, Star Seeker departed on an eight-night voyage to San Juan, Puerto Rico, with port calls in the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands.
—Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for christen
Cite this Entry
“Christen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/christen. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
