marry

1 of 2

verb

mar·​ry ˈmer-ē 

ˈma-rē

married; marrying; marries

transitive verb

1

a

: to join in marriage according to law or custom

b

: to find a marriage partner for (someone, especially one's child)

They married their son to the daughter of a close friend.

trying to marry their children off

c

: to take as spouse : wed

married the girl next door

d

: to perform the ceremony of marriage for

a priest will marry them

e

: to obtain by marriage

marry wealth

2

: to unite in close and usually permanent relation

intransitive verb

1

: to take a spouse : wed

He first married at twenty.

2

: combine, unite

seafood marries with other flavors

marry

2 of 2

interjection

archaic

—used for emphasis and especially to express amused or surprised agreement

Phrases

marry into

: to become a member of by marriage

married into a prominent family

Synonyms

Verb

• wed

Examples of marry in a Sentence

Verb

He married his college sweetheart.

I asked her to marry me.

“Will you marry me?” “Yes, I will.”

They married for love, not money.

The minister has married more than 100 couples.

They hope to have a priest marry them.

They were married by a justice of the peace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Caitlyn Jenner was previously married to Kris Jenner, the ex-wife of Robert Kardashian — who was Simpson’s defense attorney. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024

The former couple got married two years later, in August 2017. —Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024

Simpson and Brown married February 2, 1985, and would go on to have two children: Sydney Brooke Simpson in 1985 and Justin Ryan Simpson in 1988. —Dakin Andone, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024

His relationship with Ciara, to whom he’s been married since 2016, is an inspiration to those who celebrate Black love. —Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024

Hudson and Bartlett got engaged in 2004 and married two years later at a beach wedding ceremony in Cabo. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2024

The Taylor-Johnsons, who now live on a farm in Somerset, England, married in 2012, each taking the other’s name. —Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024

Lizi, a cheerful girl with curly blonde hair, was born a year after the couple married. —Constant Méheut Oksana Parafeniuk, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024

Brittany and her husband Patrick, 28, are high school sweethearts and married in March 2022. —Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English marien, from Anglo-French marier, from Latin maritare, from maritus married

Interjection

Middle English marie, from Marie, the Virgin Mary

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Interjection

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing marry

• marry into
• marry into money
• marry money

Kids Definition

marry

1 of 2 verb

mar·​ry ˈmar-ē 

married; marrying

1

: to join in marriage according to law or custom

they were married by a priest

2

: to give in marriage

married their children off

3

: to take as husband or wife

married a singer

4

: to enter into a marriage relationship : wed

decided to marry

5

: to enter into a close union

working long hours, she is married to her job

marry

2 of 2 interjection

archaic

—used to express amused or surprised agreement

Etymology

Verb

Middle English marien "to marry," from early French marier (same meaning), derived from Latin maritus "married"

Interjection

Middle English marie, an interjection, from Marie "the Virgin Mary"