celebrate

cel·e·brate

A group of people celebrating an occasion with glasses of champagne.

verb

To celebrate is to engage in a joyous and often social activity or event, usually in honor of some specific event or achievement.

An example of celebrate is when you throw a party because of a graduation.

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"celebrate." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 June 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Celebrate>.

APA Style

celebrate. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Celebrate

celebrate

transitive verb

-·brat·ed, -·brat·ing

to perform (a ritual, ceremony, etc.) publicly and formally: solemnize
to commemorate (an anniversary, holiday, etc.) with ceremony or festivity
to honor or praise publicly
to mark (a happy occasion) by engaging in some pleasurable activity

Origin of celebrate

Middle English celebraten from Classical Latin celebratus, past participle of celebrare, to frequent, go in great numbers, honor from celeber, frequented, populous; akin to celer, swift: see hold

to observe a holiday, anniversary, etc. with festivities
to perform a religious ceremony
to mark a happy occasion by engaging in some pleasurable activity

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MLA Style

"celebrate." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 June 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Celebrate>.

APA Style

celebrate. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Celebrate

celebrate

verb

cel·e·brat·ed, cel·e·brat·ing, cel·e·brates

verb

transitive

To observe (a day or event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing. See Synonyms at observe.
To perform (a religious ceremony): celebrate Mass.
To extol or praise: a sonnet that celebrates love.
To make widely known; display: “a determination on the author's part to celebrate … the offenses of another” ( William H. Pritchard )

verb

intransitive

To observe an occasion with appropriate ceremony or festivity.
To perform a religious ceremony.
To engage in festivities: went out and celebrated after the victory.

Origin of celebrate

Middle English celebraten from Latin celebrāre celebrāt- to frequent, celebrate from celeber celebr- frequented, famous

Related Forms:

cel′e·bra′tion
noun

cel′e·bra′tor
noun

cel′e·bra·to′ry
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"celebrate." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 June 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Celebrate>.

APA Style

celebrate. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Celebrate

Verb

(third-person singular simple present celebrates, present participle celebrating, simple past and past participle celebrated)

To extol or honour in a solemn manner.
to celebrate the name of the Most High
To honour by rites, by ceremonies of joy and respect, or by refraining from ordinary business; to observe duly; to keep.
to celebrate a birthday
(intransitive) To engage in joyful activity in appreciation of an event.
I was promoted today at work—let’s celebrate!
To perform or participate in, as a sacrament or solemn rite; to solemnize; to perform with appropriate rites.
to celebrate a marriage

Usage notes

In sense “to conduct ceremonies, to follow a custom”, generally used of festive occasions, such as Christmas and birthdays. For more solemn occasions, particularly certain religious holidays (“holy days”) and commemorations, the term observe is used instead, as in “This office will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.”

Origin

From Latin celebratus, pp. of celebrare (“frequent, go to in great numbers, celebrate, honor, praise”), from celeber (“frequented, populous”).

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