celebrate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
celebrates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
celebrated,
past participle, past
-
celebrating
present participle
-
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
-
to make known publicly; proclaim.
The newspaper celebrated the end of the war in red headlines.
-
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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celebrates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
celebrated,
past participle, past
-
celebrating
present participle
-
to observe a day or commemorate an event with ceremonies or festivities.
-
to perform a religious ceremony, especially Mass or the Lord's Supper.
-
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)
-
(tr) to praise publicly; proclaim
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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celebraternoun
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celebrationnoun
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celebratornoun
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precelebrateverb
-
recelebrateverb
-
celebrativeadjective
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celebratoryadjective
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uncelebratingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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celebratesimple
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celebratessimple
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have celebratedperfect
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has celebratedperfect
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am celebratingprogressive
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are celebratingprogressive
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is celebratingprogressive
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have been celebratingperfect progressive
-
has been celebratingperfect progressive
Past
-
celebratedsimple
-
had celebratedperfect
-
was celebratingprogressive
-
were celebratingprogressive
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had been celebratingperfect progressive
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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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.
See Examples For:
“For generations, our communities have used lowriders to tell our stories, celebrate our heritage, and create something beautiful out of the streets we call home.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
Let’s celebrate that, even as we gird for more battles to come.
From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026
Paris City Hall organised a massive karaoke event on Friday night, attended by thousands, to celebrate Dion's return to the stage.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have for years maintained backchannels to celebrate victories and advise each other on the War on Terror.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
“You did get to celebrate, didn’t you? You’ll come out with us at end of shift.”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
But being photographed for a campaign that celebrates the resilience of women living with breast cancer helped her find an inner strength she never knew she had.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
“That’s probably been the biggest evolution. Once your relationship with yourself changes, every relationship around you changes too. I think this record celebrates both of those equally.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
The Roadrunner celebrates his escape with a “beep beep.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Ukraine celebrates independence day on Monday, which also marks exactly four-and-a-half years since Russia invaded on February 24, 2022.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
“I was just—awkward. I know not everyone celebrates Halloween, but I’ve never had a friend who didn’t dress up and trick-or-treat.”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
On 11 August 2012, Tice celebrated his 31st birthday at a rebel safehouse on the western edge of Damascus, a few miles from Assad's presidential palace.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Or perhaps a practical application of satirist William Makepeace Thackeray’s celebrated challenge: “How to live well on nothing a year.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
The Smith hat was first celebrated for solving a question about how shapes can cover a surface.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
In their statement, the couple said they got married in a small ceremony with only their family present, and then celebrated with a larger group.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Bell, who had accompanied the celebrated naturalist John James Audubon on his trip up the Missouri River, was the most famous taxidermist of the time.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
Mythic Reinvention: An exhibition celebrating 50 Years of Costume and Craft is open until 15 November.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Sarah’s parents are celebrating their wedding anniversary, and they’re taking the whole clan on a celebratory safari.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
The tribute featured photos of the sisters as kids at a pumpkin patch and celebrating Kramer’s birthday at a Japanese steakhouse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
“You feel good celebrating that spirit,” he said.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
“Tomorrow he’ll cut it down and dispose of it. I think he’s out celebrating tonight.”
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
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.
