marry

¹ American  

[mar-ee, mer-ee] / ˈmær i, ˈmɛr i /

verb (used with object)

married, marrying

1. to take in marriage.

   After being together for five years, I finally asked her to marry me.

2. to perform the marriage ceremonies for (two people); join in wedlock.

   The minister married Susan and Ed.

3. to give in marriage; arrange the marriage of (often followed byoff ): They want to marry off all their children before selling their big home.

   Her father wants to marry her to his friend's son.

   They want to marry off all their children before selling their big home.

4. to unite intimately.

   Common economic interests marry the two countries.

5. to take as an intimate life partner by a formal exchange of promises in the manner of a traditional marriage ceremony.

6. to combine, connect, or join so as to make more efficient, attractive, or profitable: A recent merger marries two of the nation's largest corporations.

   The latest cameras marry automatic and manual features.

   A recent merger marries two of the nation's largest corporations.

7. Nautical.

   1. to lay together (the unlaid strands of two ropes) to be spliced.

   2. to seize (two ropes) together end to end for use as a single line.

   3. to seize (parallel ropes) together at intervals.

8. to cause (food, liquor, etc.) to blend with other ingredients.

   to marry malt whiskey with grain whiskey.

---

verb (used without object)

married, marrying

1. to wed.

2. (of two or more foods, wines, etc.) to combine suitably or agreeably; blend.

   This wine and the strong cheese just don't marry.

marry ² American  

[mar-ee] / ˈmær i /

interjection

Archaic.

1. (used as an exclamation of surprise, astonishment, etc.)

---

marry ¹ British  

/ ˈmærɪ /

verb

1. to take (someone as one's partner) in marriage

2. (tr) to join or give in marriage

3. (tr) to acquire (something) by marriage

   marry money

4. to unite closely or intimately

5. to fit together or align (two things); join

6. (tr) nautical

   1. to match up (the strands) of unlaid ropes before splicing

   2. to seize (two ropes) together at intervals along their lengths

---

marry ² British  

/ ˈmærɪ /

interjection

1. archaic an exclamation of surprise, anger, etc

---

Pronunciation

See Mary.

Other Word Forms

• marrier noun
• nonmarrying adjective
• unmarrying adjective

Etymology

Origin of marry¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English marien, from Old French marier, from Latin marītāre “to wed,” derivative of marītus “conjugal,” akin to mās “male (person)”

Origin of marry²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English Mari(e), marie, mare , euphemistic variant of Mary (the Virgin)

Explanation

To marry someone is to make an official, ceremonial commitment to be partners. You can marry someone in a church, barefoot on a beach, or in a courthouse. Some people marry their long-time sweethearts, while others abruptly choose to marry after knowing each other briefly. The officiant who leads the wedding ceremony, whether they're a judge or an ordained minister who's also an Elvis impersonator, is the person who marries the happy couple. The Latin root is maritare, "to wed or marry," and also "to give in marriage."

Example Sentences

While not an inventor, Jobs -- who died in 2011 at age 56 -- was renowned for his uncompromising drive to marry technology with design to create products that were intuitive and hassle-free.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Telling his own story decades later, Harry would recount how royal custom dictated he ask his grandmother for permission to marry Meghan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

“From the moment I arrived, you believed in me, supported me, and embraced my family as your own. I was able to marry my wife and welcome both my kids to this world,” he posted.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

The court also heard about a story concerning Law's decision to tell the couple's son during a car journey that he planned to marry actress Sienna Miller.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

“We have extra space! You could move here and live with us! I mend all his clothes right now, but that could be your job when you marry him.”

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• join
• wed