ceremonious

[ ser-uh-moh-nee-uhs ]
/ ˌsɛr əˈmoʊ ni əs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ceremonious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

carefully observant of ceremony; formally or elaborately polite: He greeted his rival with a ceremonious display of friendship.
pertaining to, marked by, or consisting of ceremony; formal: a ceremonious reception.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ceremonious

1545–55; ceremony + -ous; compare Middle French cerimonieux<Late Latin caerimōniōsus

OTHER WORDS FROM ceremonious

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ceremonious

ceremonial, ceremonious .

Words nearby ceremonious

cerecloth, Ceredigion, cerement, ceremonial, ceremonial tea, ceremonious, ceremony, Cerenkov, Cerenkov effect, Cerenkov radiation, cereous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to ceremonious

civil, courteous, courtly, decorous, deferential, dignified, exact, grandiose, impressive, majestic, moving, precise, proper, punctilious, seemly, solemn, starchy, stately, stiff, striking

Example sentences from the Web for ceremonious

British Dictionary definitions for ceremonious

ceremonious
/ (ˌsɛrɪˈməʊnɪəs) /

adjective

especially or excessively polite or formal
observing ceremony; involving formalities

Derived forms of ceremonious

ceremoniously, adverbceremoniousness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012