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
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recelebrateverb
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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
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celebratedsimple
-
had celebratedperfect
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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:
I’m sure there are liars in the office who look a little too fresh-faced to have actually been there to see Shelton celebrate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Its bare bones prose and electrifying pictures preserve, honor and celebrate the people, places and ideas responsible for Rosales’ sentimental education.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Brennan, 21, held up four fingers to celebrate each of his four stage wins in his first Grand Tour.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
As we celebrate the Vanguard 500 Index fund’s 50th birthday, we discover that it is the gift that keeps on giving to each of us as well.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
In exactly one month, she would be twelve years old, and for the first time in her life, Papa wouldn’t be there to celebrate with her.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
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
He celebrates the Sabbath every week, shutting off his cellphone and focusing on his wife and three young children.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 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
Concours d’Lemons celebrates something very different: the odd, forgotten and sometimes downright terrible cars that rarely make it onto a concours lawn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Every spring, our synagogue celebrates the story of Esther.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
My wife, Elvira, and I celebrated our first wedded year atop the World Trade Center.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Nor does it tell guests where, exactly, in the 100,000 square feet of gallery space they can find particularly celebrated works of art including pieces by Artemisia Gentileschi, Ernie Barnes, Frida Kahlo and Grandma Moses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
The celebrated British fashion designer showed off his eclectic collection of gifts sent by admirers, and shared details of his daily routine.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
The Vanguard 500 Index Fund, which at the end of last month celebrated its 50th birthday, is just as strong today as it was in 1976.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Reunited with his wife, Elena, and daughter, Evelyn, Abel was greeted as a hero in the Soviet Union, celebrated for living under the Americans’ noses for nine years.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Sometimes there’s live music; often families are celebrating.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
After the final whistle, Mourinho ran on to the pitch to celebrate with his players, and the Camp Nou sprinklers were turned on while Inter were celebrating.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
In other words, he called for ads celebrating himself.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
“Jackie’s life and legacy offer Californians an opportunity to reflect on those ideals while celebrating our responsibility to protect the wildlife and natural heritage entrusted to us,” the resolution said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
We’ve been quizzing each other, but the only answers I care about are all Arthur-related: How is he celebrating his birthday?
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
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.
