celebrate
Americanverb (used with object)
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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
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to make known publicly; proclaim.
The newspaper celebrated the end of the war in red headlines.
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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.
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to perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies; solemnize.
to celebrate a marriage.
verb (used without object)
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to observe a day or commemorate an event with ceremonies or festivities.
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to perform a religious ceremony, especially Mass or the Lord's Supper.
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to have or participate in a party, drinking spree, or uninhibited good time.
You look like you were up celebrating all night.
verb
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to rejoice in or have special festivities to mark (a happy day, event, etc)
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(tr) to observe (a birthday, anniversary, etc)
she celebrates her ninetieth birthday next month
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(tr) to perform (a solemn or religious ceremony), esp to officiate at (Mass)
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(tr) to praise publicly; proclaim
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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celebratornoun
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celebrativeadjective
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recelebrateverb
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celebrationnoun
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uncelebratingadjective
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celebraternoun
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precelebrateverb
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celebratoryadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have celebratedperfect
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has celebratedperfect 3rd person singular
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is celebratingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been celebratingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are celebratingprogressive
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have been celebratingperfect progressive
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am celebratingprogressive 1st person singular
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celebratessingular 3rd person
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celebratingparticiple
Past
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had celebratedperfect
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were celebratingprogressive plural
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had been celebratingperfect progressive
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was celebratingprogressive singular
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celebratedsimple
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celebratedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of celebrate
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; see -ate 1
Explanation
To celebrate means to mark a special day, event, or holiday. You might celebrate a birthday, a religious holiday, or even the anniversary of a famous battle. Use celebrate for festive, happy occasions. If the special day, event, or holiday is more solemn or introspective, a verb like observe is often used. After we observe Memorial Day, we look forward to celebrating the Fourth of July. The verb can also mean to honor or praise — "The book celebrated the life of the actress who had given so much to worthy causes."
Vocabulary lists containing celebrate
Academy Awards, List 2
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myPerspectives 7.5
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"Familiar Places"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
All three films celebrate highly dominant male protagonists who project raw power, aggression and emotional intensity.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
The campaign said it would be organizing a news conference Wednesday to celebrate the “historic win.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
The area around Madison Square Garden has become a hot spot for Knicks fans to gather and celebrate during their playoff run to the NBA Finals.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
It first took place in 2025 and aims to celebrate the legacy of the late comedian, who died in 2014 at the age of 56.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
She wore an outfit entirely made of sequins to celebrate her first day and appeared as we all stood outside the classroom, waiting for school to start.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
