celebration
Americannoun
-
celebrations
plural
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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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
See Examples For:
After Monday’s search, the celebration became even more explicit.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
"This Saturday, October 17, will be a celebration of our collective power. Walk together to the polls. Organize rides. Bring your neighbors, friends, and family," she urged participants.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
A minute's silence was held earlier at the Royal National Mòd, Scotland's annual celebration of Gaelic culture and language, which is taking place in Glasgow.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
In June 2025, Sramek offered Suisun City a $55,000 grant for the local July 4 fireworks celebration and other events threatened by a budget shortfall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
She and Ivan went back to the celebration.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
I liked asking people what brought them in, hearing about their celebrations and making small talk while consulting my restaurant map and section list.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
Additional initiatives, including 15 new Olympic and Paralympic murals and disability arts celebrations, depend on further funding.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
Captain Ruben Dias also defended the post-match celebrations at Anfield.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Saturday's celebrations mark the 115th anniversary of the toppling of China's Qing dynasty and the subsequent founding of the Republic of China.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
It’s New Year’s Eve and Mrs. O’Halloran is anxious for this child to be born so that she can rush off to the parties and celebrations.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
