celebratory

adjective

cel·​e·​bra·​to·​ry ˈse-lə-brə-ˌtȯr-ē 

ˌse-lə-ˈbrā-tə-rē

: of, relating to, expressing, or characterized by celebration

The tone of the article was celebratory.

Both band and audience seemed in celebratory moods, with massive cheers erupting when the lights went out …

—Emily Burnham

: used or intended for use in celebrating

We went for a celebratory drink after the game.

And you can even find meals that don't have any turkey at all; for many Westerners, Thanksgiving dinner is more about celebratory feasting than ironclad tradition, so chefs update their menus with everything from lobster with tomato-basil polenta to butternut squash lasagna.

—Colleen Dunn Bates

Also beginning in earnest is the crop of celebratory activities to mark the 250th anniversary of the quintessential college town.

—James Heflin

Examples of celebratory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The special offered viewers a look inside the celebratory March 28 concert, part of the singer-songwriter’s historic residency at the New York City venue. —Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024

The Russians even took Iran’s nuclear fuel, for a hefty fee, prompting celebratory declarations that President Vladimir V. Putin could cooperate with the West on critical security issues and help constrain a disruptive regime in a volatile region. —David E. Sanger, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024

The energy in the room was celebratory and it was conjured forth by Jasmine Wahi and Rebecca Pauline, both co-founders of Project for Empty Space. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024

Wilson, Brooks & Dunn and rock legend Sammy Hagar honored the late country music star Toby Keith with a celebratory tribute performance, backed by his longtime band on stage. —Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

State won the 1983 title as a 6-seed, and then-head coach Jim Valvano's celebratory run across the court after the final buzzer remains an iconic image of March Madness. —Becky Sullivan, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024

The finalists were announced Wednesday morning at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in D.C. at what turned out to be an especially celebratory event for locals. —Zoe Glasser, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024

For many households around metro Detroit, the spring holiday of Easter often includes ham as the centerpiece of a celebratory meal. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024

Extending beyond dresses, the collection features pieces for a multitude of celebratory occasions, such as bikinis, pajamas, pantsuit separates, skirts, crochet-style cover-ups and more. —Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above