ceremonious
Americanadjective
-
carefully observant of ceremony; formally or elaborately polite.
He greeted his rival with a ceremonious display of friendship.
- Synonyms:
- punctilious, conventional, ceremonial
-
pertaining to, marked by, or consisting of ceremony; formal.
a ceremonious reception.
adjective
-
especially or excessively polite or formal
-
observing ceremony; involving formalities
Other Word Forms
- anticeremonious adjective
- anticeremoniously adverb
- anticeremoniousness noun
- ceremoniously adverb
- ceremoniousness noun
- nonceremonious adjective
- nonceremoniously adverb
- nonceremoniousness noun
- superceremonious adjective
- superceremoniously adverb
- superceremoniousness noun
Etymology
Origin of ceremonious
1545–55; ceremony + -ous; compare Middle French cerimonieux < Late Latin caerimōniōsus
Explanation
When people are involved in a ceremony, they often behave in a solemn way, exhibiting the respect they feel for the ritual. Their behavior can be described as ceremonious. Don't confuse ceremonious with ceremonial. Ceremonial means "by ceremony." If, after signing a peace agreement, two presidents exchange a ceremonial handshake in front of reporters, that's different from the ceremonious manner they maintain while doing so.
Vocabulary lists containing ceremonious
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
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The Merchant of Venice
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
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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.
She lamented that the home did not have some kind of ceremonious sendoff — final tours for architecture students, a celebratory cocktail hour, donation of materials for architectural studies — before it was torn down.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2024
The custom, which feels both ceremonious and nostalgic, can be a powerful refuge from the chaos of the outside world, business owners say.
From New York Times • Jan. 16, 2024
The mood inside the court - quiet and ceremonious - was a contrast to the atmosphere outside as dozens of activists rallied in support of cancellation.
From Washington Times • Mar. 1, 2023
Thirty-five years later the world's five-billionth baby is trying to forget his ceremonious entry into the world.
From BBC • Nov. 14, 2022
The two-foot span arched above Bigwig, who sat perfectly still while the white feathers beat the air round his head in a kind of ceremonious farewell.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
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.
