as in ritual
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
a beautiful, old-fashioned wedding ceremony
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Recent Examples of ceremony
The public ceremony was a major moment for top city officials, as well as Detroit's police commission, city clerk and city council, who were also sworn in.
—
Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The school will hold a ceremony retiring her jersey at halftime of the boys’ basketball game between Sierra Canyon and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
To settle who would get first pick in the next draft, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle conducted a coin toss ceremony in a posh New Orleans hotel ballroom before Super Bowl IV.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
After two years of dating, the two got engaged in 2009 and were married a few years later, in October 2013, in a small ceremony at the Beverly Hills courthouse.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ceremony
Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The school will hold a ceremony retiring her jersey at halftime of the boys’ basketball game between Sierra Canyon and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
To settle who would get first pick in the next draft, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle conducted a coin toss ceremony in a posh New Orleans hotel ballroom before Super Bowl IV.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
After two years of dating, the two got engaged in 2009 and were married a few years later, in October 2013, in a small ceremony at the Beverly Hills courthouse.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ceremony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceremony
Noun
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Mirta describes the family’s new Saturday ritual of sitting on the couch and watching videos of Carillo.—
Kevin Maurer,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
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Still, one of Winter's most important pre-show rituals is something that has become somewhat of a tradition for fans as well.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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United’s football board is a ceremonial construct these days — the big decisions are taken at plc level — but keeping Ferguson and Gill updated is considered internally as a shrewd move.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
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The Latin name derives from the shape of its leaves, which resemble a bishop’s miter, the ceremonial, pointed headdress worn by bishops and other church leaders.—
David Kroll,
The Conversation,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ceremony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceremony. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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