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)

Example Sentences

Chinese brides lining up to marry in Yorkshire abbey.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Some marry by choice to send money back to their families or to plot an eventual escape.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

He did a poorly received grunge collection that incoherently tried to marry haute couture with thrift-store shabbiness, and was fired for it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

After a difficult year and a breakup, Vicioso wanted to marry her love of flowers with community building.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

“And I don’t have to do what he says! I don’t have to marry you...just because you say...just because I said...”

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

Related Words

• join
• wed