marry

¹ American  

[mar-ee, mer-ee] / ˈmær i, ˈmɛr i /

verb (used with object)

married, marrying

1. to take in marriage.

   After being together for five years, I finally asked her to marry me.

2. to perform the marriage ceremonies for (two people); join in wedlock.

   The minister married Susan and Ed.

3. to give in marriage; arrange the marriage of (often followed byoff ): They want to marry off all their children before selling their big home.

   Her father wants to marry her to his friend's son.

   They want to marry off all their children before selling their big home.

4. to unite intimately.

   Common economic interests marry the two countries.

5. to take as an intimate life partner by a formal exchange of promises in the manner of a traditional marriage ceremony.

6. to combine, connect, or join so as to make more efficient, attractive, or profitable: A recent merger marries two of the nation's largest corporations.

   The latest cameras marry automatic and manual features.

   A recent merger marries two of the nation's largest corporations.

7. Nautical.

   1. to lay together (the unlaid strands of two ropes) to be spliced.

   2. to seize (two ropes) together end to end for use as a single line.

   3. to seize (parallel ropes) together at intervals.

8. to cause (food, liquor, etc.) to blend with other ingredients.

   to marry malt whiskey with grain whiskey.

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verb (used without object)

married, marrying

1. to wed.

2. (of two or more foods, wines, etc.) to combine suitably or agreeably; blend.

   This wine and the strong cheese just don't marry.

marry ² American  

[mar-ee] / ˈmær i /

interjection

Archaic.

1. (used as an exclamation of surprise, astonishment, etc.)

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marry ¹ British  

/ ˈmærɪ /

verb

1. to take (someone as one's partner) in marriage

2. (tr) to join or give in marriage

3. (tr) to acquire (something) by marriage

   marry money

4. to unite closely or intimately

5. to fit together or align (two things); join

6. (tr) nautical

   1. to match up (the strands) of unlaid ropes before splicing

   2. to seize (two ropes) together at intervals along their lengths

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marry ² British  

/ ˈmærɪ /

interjection

1. archaic an exclamation of surprise, anger, etc

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Pronunciation

See Mary.

Other Word Forms

• marrier noun
• nonmarrying adjective
• unmarrying adjective

Etymology

Origin of marry¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English marien, from Old French marier, from Latin marītāre “to wed,” derivative of marītus “conjugal,” akin to mās “male (person)”

Origin of marry²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English Mari(e), marie, mare , euphemistic variant of Mary (the Virgin)

Explanation

To marry someone is to make an official, ceremonial commitment to be partners. You can marry someone in a church, barefoot on a beach, or in a courthouse. Some people marry their long-time sweethearts, while others abruptly choose to marry after knowing each other briefly. The officiant who leads the wedding ceremony, whether they're a judge or an ordained minister who's also an Elvis impersonator, is the person who marries the happy couple. The Latin root is maritare, "to wed or marry," and also "to give in marriage."

Example Sentences

That’s especially true of the demographic of women who watch the network, who are also the prime audience for Hallmark movies about wayward daughters returning home to marry the boy next door.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

Pandaram, meanwhile, is an uxorious family man struggling to marry off a spoiled daughter, and the story turns on the scams and deceptions he faces in arranging her future.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Chinese brides lining up to marry in Yorkshire abbey.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

While not an inventor, Jobs -- who died in 2011 at age 56 -- was renowned for his uncompromising drive to marry technology with design to create products that were intuitive and hassle-free.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Mortals began asking the spirits for advice—who to marry, what kind of work to do, where to live.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• join
• wed