celebrate

cel·e·brate | \ ˈse-lə-ˌbrāt

celebrated; celebrating

Definition of celebrate

1 : to perform (a sacrament or solemn ceremony) publicly and with appropriate rites A priest celebrates Mass.

2a : to honor (an occasion, such as a holiday) especially by solemn ceremonies or by refraining from ordinary business The nation celebrates Memorial Day.

b : to mark (something, such as an anniversary) by festivities or other deviation from routine celebrated their 25th anniversary

3 : to hold up or play up for public notice her poetry celebrates the glory of nature

intransitive verb

1 : to observe a holiday, perform a religious ceremony, or take part in a festival The holiday revelers celebrated all day long.

2 : to observe a notable occasion with festivities decided the only way to celebrate was to have a party

Other Words from celebrate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about celebrate

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Choose the Right Synonym for celebrate

keep, observe, celebrate, commemorate mean to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed. keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating. kept the Sabbath by refraining from work observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance. not all holidays are observed nationally celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity. traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event. commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

Examples of celebrate in a Sentence

We are celebrating my birthday by going out to dinner. The family gathered to celebrate Christmas. We are celebrating our anniversary next week. They are celebrating the birth of their third child. The book celebrates the movies of the past. Her lecture celebrated the genius of the artist. He is celebrated for his contributions to modern science. A priest celebrates Mass at the church daily.

Recent Examples on the Web Margarita Madness Giveaway Margaritaville is celebrating National Margarita Day by giving away a Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, "National Margarita Day 2020: Best deals, discounts to celebrate your favorite cocktail," 22 Feb. 2020 Later, when the pair founded the iconic city in 753 B.C., Romulus allegedly proceeded to celebrate the momentous occasion by squabbling with, and then murdering, his brother. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, "Archaeologists Unearth Possible Shrine to Romulus, Rome’s Legendary Founder," 22 Feb. 2020 This week, The New Yorker will be celebrating its ninety-fifth anniversary. — Erin Overbey, The New Yorker, "Sunday Reading: The Art of the Profile," 16 Feb. 2020 There is no normal size, it is suggested, and diversity of body type is to be celebrated as unconditionally as diversity of skin color or gender. — Samuel James, National Review, "There Is No ‘Party of Science’," 14 Feb. 2020 The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum is celebrating the Founding Couple’s everlasting bond with a series of performances. — BostonGlobe.com, "5 things to do in Boston this weekend," 12 Feb. 2020 Qixi traditions In olden times Chinese women celebrated Qixi with weaving, embroidering and paper-cutting. — Wei Li, The Conversation, "How China does Valentine’s Day," 11 Feb. 2020 Previous SlideNext Slide Google Maps is turning 15 this year, and Google is celebrating with a new icon and a few UI tweaks. — Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, "Google Maps gets new icon, tweaked UI for 15th birthday," 6 Feb. 2020 The Chiefs defensive tackle is celebrating the team’s Super Bowl victory by helping over 100 rescue dogs at a local shelter in Kansas City. — Andy Nesbitt, For The Win, "It's still hard to believe that Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers let THAT happen to them," 4 Feb. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'celebrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.