Synonym Chooser

How is the word celebrate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of celebrate are commemorate, keep, and observe. While all these words mean "to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed," celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

In what contexts can commemorate take the place of celebrate?

The synonyms commemorate and celebrate are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When might keep be a better fit than celebrate?

The words keep and celebrate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

When is observe a more appropriate choice than celebrate?

The words observe and celebrate can be used in similar contexts, but observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of celebrate Navas wasn’t able to guess right this time, as Downs went left and celebrated immediately as the ball hit the back of the net. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025 She is joined by devoted paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), a past student of Sam Neill’s Dr. Alan Grant who shares in his enthusiasm for studying and celebrating the majesty of the dinos and is eager to see them in action in person for the first time in his life. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 30 June 2025 Four years later, an America-first cultural crackdown has freed the Met to cast off the hair shirt of reckoning and celebrate its diverse holdings in a spirit of defiance. Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 30 June 2025 This experience celebrates the richness of Black culinary traditions across the African diaspora, from New Orleans to the Caribbean to the African continent, while showcasing innovators redefining food and spirits. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for celebrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for celebrate
Verb
  • Allow yourself to be seen, praised, or even vulnerable.
    Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 June 2025
  • In the days since the video was shared online, TikTok users have praised Row's husband for being so patient.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • To commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the 1975 World Series, NESN put together a special retro broadcast for Tuesday’s game between the Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds designed to evoke the look and feel of that era.
    Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025
  • This article on the wilderness areas along the Buffalo National River is the eighth in a series commemorating the 40th anniversary of the signing of federal legislation to create nine new federal wilderness areas in Arkansas.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • Helping CMOs Aggregate, Organize and Monetize Knowledge In Marketing Actions, Conversations and Decisions Digital marketing has blessed modern marketers with a wealth of customer engagement data.
    Stephen Diorio, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • And who wouldn’t be proud, even thrilled, to live in a country where we are blessed to have such intentional, generous, and patriotic — and consequential!
    Jack Fowler, National Review, 4 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Celebrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/celebrate. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on celebrate

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