celebrate

v.

1. To recognize an occasion

   keep, observe, commemorate, consecrate, hallow, solemnize, sanctify, dedicate, memorialize, mark, honor, proclaim, ritualize, ceremonialize, signalize, mark with a red letter*.

   Antonyms forget*, overlook*, neglect. *

2. To honor

   praise, laud, glorify, extol; see admire 1, praise 1.

3. To indulge in celebration

   rejoice, carouse, feast, give a party, kill the fatted calf, revel, jubilate, make merry, go out on the town, go on a spree, party*, live it up*, make whoopee*, blow off steam*, let off steam*, have a party*, have a ball*, kick up one's heels*, let loose*, cut loose*, whoop it up*, paint the town red*, fire a salute*, beat the drum*.

celebrate means to mark an occasion or event, esp. a joyous one, with ceremonies or festivities let's celebrate your promotion; to commemorate is to honor the memory of some person or event, as with a ceremony or memorialto commemorate Lincoln's birthday; to solemnize is to use a formal, serious ritual to observe an occasionto solemnize a marriage; observe and keep mean to respectfully mark a day or occasion in the prescribed and appropriate manner to observe, or keep, a religious holiday