celebrate

verb

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 & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about celebrate

Keep scrolling for more

Other words from celebrate

celebration \ˌse-lə-ˈbrā-shən

\ noun

celebrative \ˈse-lə-ˌbrā-tiv

\ adjective

celebrator \-tər

\ noun

celebratory \-brə-ˌtȯr-ē,

ˌse-lə-ˈbrā-tə-rē \ adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms for celebrate

Synonyms

commemorate, keep, observe

Antonyms

break, transgress, violate

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

Kylian Mbappé, the star striker of the French team, wasn’t even born yet, and neither were many of those who celebrated Tuesday night. — Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, "France’s Ghosts Return for the World Cup," 14 July 2018 Democrats are often thought to be tech-savvy, because the Obama campaigns of 2008 and 2012 were celebrated for their online touch and because much of Silicon Valley backs the party’s candidates. — New York Times, "4,500 Tech Workers, 1 Mission: Get Democrats Elected," 13 July 2018 Over the last two days, nearly 500 Yale Law alumni, students and faculty members … have signed a petition criticizing Yale for celebrating its alumnus’s nomination. — James Hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: GOP candidates caught in a bind on Medicaid," 13 July 2018 Spoil yourself today by celebrating National French Fry Day. — Lauren Delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Here's how to celebrate National French Fry Day," 13 July 2018 But if a reason is a must, then celebrating National Ice Cream Day is the answer. Sunday, July 15, marks the annual holiday, and several Louisville parlors are getting in on the fun with discounts on scoops, cones and shakes. — Bailey Loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with deals at these Louisville shops," 13 July 2018 And now, Wet n Wild is coming out with an entire Zodiac Collection full of shimmery products that celebrate the mystical side of celestial bodies. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Wet n Wild Is Launching a Super-Shimmery Zodiac Makeup Collection," 12 July 2018 While the world celebrates the rescue of the Wild Boars, Mirza said the dangers of cave diving and importance of safety often are forgotten. — Billy Kobin, Indianapolis Star, "Hoosier cave diving experts: 'Never heard of anything' like Thailand rescue," 12 July 2018 With a couple of exceptions, there was little room for humility from head coach Zlatko Dalic’s side as Croatia celebrated sealing a spot in soccer’s biggest game for the first time in its history. — Martin Rogers, USA TODAY, "Croatia taunts England over World Cup exit," 12 July 2018

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.

History and Etymology for celebrate

Middle English celebraten, borrowed from Latin celebrātus, past participle of celebrāre "to throng, frequent, observe (an occasion, festivity), praise" (probably originally back-formation from earlier concelebrāre "to frequent, honor"), derivative of celebr-, celeber "much used, frequented, widely known, famed," probably going back to *kelesri-, of uncertain origin

Keep scrolling for more