celebration
Americannoun
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the act of celebrating.
We want to do something special in celebration of Amy’s great new job.
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a party or other festive event for celebrating something.
Don’t you think the birthday celebrations for preschoolers in this neighborhood are a bit over the top?
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of celebration
First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin celebrātiōn- (stem of celebrātiō ) “large gathering, widespread use, celebration (of a festival)”; see celebrate, -ion
Explanation
A celebration is a joyful diversion. Your math class might have a celebration when you learn that the midterm has been postponed for a week. A celebration can be a festive party commemorating some joyous occasion, like your grandparents' fiftieth anniversary celebration or your brother's birthday celebration. It can also be a less formal marking of a happy event, like the arrival of your new puppy. Another meaning of celebration is a religious ceremony, such as communion or a bar mitzvah.
Vocabulary lists containing celebration
Party Parlance for Mardi Gras
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Passover Vocabulary
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List 4
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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.
CELEBRATION, Fla. — Ted Baker voted for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, strongly supporting his policies during the pandemic and leadership after Hurricane Ian plowed through the state last year.
From Washington Post • Apr. 29, 2023
IT’S A CELEBRATION: The Broncos are celebrating the NFL’s decision to let players trumpet their touchdowns with celebrations that for years resulted in flags and fines.
From Washington Times • May 23, 2017
CELEBRATION, Fla.—In November, 1996, Walt Disney Co. unveiled the nation’s first Disney-built theme town, an 11-square-mile enclave near the Magic Kingdom designed to be a modern-day suburban Utopia.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 15, 2016
And why the heck not, their first appearance in a major tournament for 30 years is assured, IT’S A CELEBRATION!
From The Guardian • Oct. 11, 2015
CELEBRATION, with a handsome blond Orphan pitted against an evil Mr. Rich, is a beguiling musical fairy tale for sophisticates who have never quite forsaken the magic of childhood.
From Time Magazine Archive
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.
