christen
Americanverb (used with object)
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to receive into the Christian church by baptism; baptize.
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to give a name to at baptism.
They christened her Mary.
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to name and dedicate.
to christen a ship.
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to make use of for the first time.
verb
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to give a Christian name to in baptism as a sign of incorporation into a Christian Church
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another word for baptize
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to give a name to (anything), esp with some ceremony
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informal to use for the first time
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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christensimple
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christenssimple
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have christenedperfect
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has christenedperfect
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am christeningprogressive
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are christeningprogressive
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is christeningprogressive
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have been christeningperfect progressive
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has been christeningperfect progressive
Past
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christenedsimple
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had christenedperfect
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was christeningprogressive
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were christeningprogressive
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had been christeningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of christen
before 900; Middle English cristenen, Old English cristnian, derivative of cristen Christian
Explanation
To christen a person is to name them, especially in a church baptism ceremony. Your parents may have christened you after a great-grandparent, giving you the same first name. Even if you were christened "Tom Smith" at birth, your friends might give you a nickname, christening you "Pickles" and referring to you that way for the rest of your life. Objects can be christened too: "I hereby christen this car Scooby Doo the Subaru!" When it happens as part of a religious ceremony, being christened means being officially admitted to a Christian church — and the word's Old English root literally means "make Christian."
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:
To his exacting teen and preteen audience, “the Danish person,” as they disobligingly christen him, looks like the houseguest from hell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
There is no reason to christen your freshly cleaned kitchen with a sink full of dishes.
From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2026
Maris pulled similar stunts often enough for her family to christen them her “dance-abouts.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2025
The Principality has rarely been the place for England to experiment or christen new talent.
From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2025
After breakfast I ran up to my room with the three younger boys on my heels debating what to christen our new charge.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Camus’ The Plague is set in Oran, and with this connection in mind he christens his new series of unflinching depictions of massacre.
From Slate ● Jun. 6, 2025
At the end of the season Carmy, Sydney and Marcus reclaim the cannoli with a savory creation Marcus christens The Michael.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2023
David Zwirner christens its L.A. space with an exhibition from Njideka Akunyili Crosby, featuring new and recent works in the artist’s first solo exhibition with the gallery.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2023
They watched as the admiral’s wife, Beverly Hilarides, smashed a bottle of champagne against the brick of the building to christen it, as the Navy christens new ships.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 2, 2015
There is an eloquent word in German which we can only clumsily reproduce, which christens the ugly pleasure at seeing misfortune and calls it ‘joy in others’ disasters.’
From Expositions of Holy Scripture: Romans Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V) by Maclaren, Alexander
Sitting next to miniature mock-ups of the exhibitions, Opie noted that her longtime gallerist, Shaun Caley Regen, has christened this the “Catherine Opie World Tour 2026,” complete with T-shirts.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
The hero was never named in the book, but the character was christened Harry Palmer for the film and played by Michael Caine.
From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2026
While it is still being rented out regularly to tenants, 7 ½ West End Court has now been christened “The Born to Run House” by Springsteen’s fans.
From Salon ● Mar. 4, 2026
Leftover pizza gets cut up, crisped on the stove and mixed into scrambled eggs—a remnant from Duggal’s college days that she has christened “pizza eggs.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025
This first group of MK soldiers was christened the Luthuli Detachment and they were the spearhead of the armed struggle.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
They enact for their confused rescuer the story of the forgotten fairy at the christening, the curse and the spindle—and then go back to sleep.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
Of course, race has played an equally important role in Davis’ work as gender, if christening herself after the activist Angela Davis when she was a teenager wasn’t enough of a clue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 9, 2025
Known for her iconic one liners, Doris is well quoted by fans of the series - particularly when she refused to make the salad for Neil the Baby's christening.
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2025
Bitcoin had risen nine out of the previous 11 Octobers before this year, according to Dow Jones Market Data, leading to some bulls christening the month “Uptober.”
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025
“She will wear that white dress for her christening, Sister,” Arize said.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
