celebrate

[ sel-uh-breyt ]

verb (used with object)

, cel·e·brat·ed, cel·e·brat·ing.

1. to observe (a day) or commemorate (an event) with ceremonies or festivities:

   to celebrate Christmas; to celebrate the success of a new play.

   Synonyms: solemnize, commemorate

2. to make known publicly; proclaim:

   The newspaper celebrated the end of the war in red headlines.

3. to praise widely or to present to widespread and favorable public notice, as through newspapers or novels:

   a novel celebrating the joys of marriage; the countryside celebrated in the novels of Hardy.

   Synonyms: commend, applaud, acclaim, hail, glorify, laud

4. to perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies; solemnize:

   to celebrate a marriage.

verb (used without object)

, cel·e·brat·ed, cel·e·brat·ing.

1. to observe a day or commemorate an event with ceremonies or festivities.
2. to perform a religious ceremony, especially Mass or the Lord's Supper.
3. to have or participate in a party, drinking spree, or uninhibited good time:

   You look like you were up celebrating all night.

celebrate

/ ˈsɛlɪˌbreɪt /

verb

1. to rejoice in or have special festivities to mark (a happy day, event, etc)
2. tr to observe (a birthday, anniversary, etc)

   she celebrates her ninetieth birthday next month

3. tr to perform (a solemn or religious ceremony), esp to officiate at (Mass)
4. tr to praise publicly; proclaim

Derived Forms

• ˈceleˌbrator, noun
• ˈcelebrative, adjective
• ˈceleˌbratory, adjective
• ˌceleˈbration, noun

Other Words From

• cel·e·bra·tive adjective
• cel·e·bra·tor cel·e·brat·er noun
• cel·e·bra·to·ry [sel, -, uh, -br, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective
• pre·cel·e·brate verb precelebrated precelebrating
• re·cel·e·brate verb recelebrated recelebrating
• un·cel·e·brat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of celebrate¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin celebrātus, past participle of celebrāre “to solemnize, celebrate, honor,” equivalent to celebr- (stem of celeber ) “often repeated, famous” + -ātus past participle suffix; -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of celebrate¹

C15: from Latin celebrāre, from celeber numerous, thronged, renowned

Example Sentences

On one hand, only the Lakers and the Celtics were able to celebrate as champs last year.

From Los Angeles Times

The three-day event, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in April, draws nearly 200,000 people to the streets of Long Beach, contributing an estimated $63 million to the region’s economy annually.

From Los Angeles Times

“I want to keep discovering that. I don’t want to be younger or hold onto who I was before. I want to age and to celebrate aging and celebrate aging with humor.”

From Los Angeles Times

I couldn't be in any Christmas shows because we didn't celebrate Christmas.

From BBC

Tesco's advert features a man called Gary who is trying to celebrate Christmas while mourning his grandmother.

From BBC

Related Words

• honor
• laud
• observe
• perform
• praise
• proclaim
• revere