marry
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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marries,
present (3rd person singular)
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married,
past participle, past
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marrying
present participle
-
to take in marriage.
After being together for five years, I finally asked her to marry me.
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to perform the marriage ceremonies for (two people); join in wedlock.
The minister married Susan and Ed.
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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.
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to unite intimately.
Common economic interests marry the two countries.
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to take as an intimate life partner by a formal exchange of promises in the manner of a traditional marriage ceremony.
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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.
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Nautical.
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to lay together (the unlaid strands of two ropes) to be spliced.
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to seize (two ropes) together end to end for use as a single line.
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to seize (parallel ropes) together at intervals.
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to cause (food, liquor, etc.) to blend with other ingredients.
to marry malt whiskey with grain whiskey.
verb (used without object)
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marries,
present (3rd person singular)
-
married,
past participle, past
-
marrying
present participle
-
to wed.
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(of two or more foods, wines, etc.) to combine suitably or agreeably; blend.
This wine and the strong cheese just don't marry.
interjection
verb
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to take (someone as one's partner) in marriage
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(tr) to join or give in marriage
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(tr) to acquire (something) by marriage
marry money
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to unite closely or intimately
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to fit together or align (two things); join
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(tr) nautical
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to match up (the strands) of unlaid ropes before splicing
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to seize (two ropes) together at intervals along their lengths
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interjection
Pronunciation
See Mary.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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marrysimple
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marriessimple
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have marriedperfect
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has marriedperfect
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am marryingprogressive
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are marryingprogressive
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is marryingprogressive
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have been marryingperfect progressive
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has been marryingperfect progressive
Past
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marriedsimple
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had marriedperfect
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was marryingprogressive
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were marryingprogressive
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had been marryingperfect progressive
Future
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
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:
His appeal as a filmmaker lies in his stylistic flair; the joy comes from watching him marry the aesthetically manicured with the ideologically bizarre.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
Once they arrived, Schalk turned to Rodriguez, got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
The American spouse would receive up to $30,000 to marry the foreign national.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
"In cases I've handled, suspects often argue that they genuinely intended to marry and live a good life but realised they were incompatible, had conflicts, and decided to end the relationship," he says.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 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
The English-language version of the story - Your Fault: London, story follows Noah, who moves to the capital city after her mother marries a wealthy businessman.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
By the time Abigail marries her third husband, mild-mannered Lucas, and the couple go on to have three sons, Daphne has grown a protective shell.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026
According to the listing, the 22-foot-wide property marries “traditional English charm, modern Brooklyn sensibilities, and rich Italian influence.”
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 22, 2026
“Amongst Women” depicts this claustrophobic domain in restrained prose that is infused with tension when Moran marries again.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 9, 2026
For John everything in his life, even the girl he marries, will always be second to his work.
From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare
Before Dominique married Elle’s father, the two were the best of friends.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
The three children of Theophilus Van Assche never married, and it is possible no one knew the gold was there, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Iger and Bay married in 1995 and moved from New York to Los Angeles in 2000.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
It is run by Najia, a 47-year-old Afghan entrepreneur and mother of nine children who was married at the age of 14.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Folks had been calling him Uncle Alf for years, even though he was barely older than Pa. He’d been married once but his wife died young, before they had a chance to have a family.
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
Simpson said he had begun to “put the puzzle pieces together,” marrying concepts with lessons learned watching Stafford and Bennett.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
I am considering marrying my girlfriend and have several questions about how it might affect her Social Security and Supplemental Security Income.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
Some have expressed concerns about marrying CNN and CBS News following months of turmoil at CBS News since David Ellison hired journalist Bari Weiss as CBS News editor in chief.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
After marrying my mom, he worked three jobs, including driving a taxi on the midnight shift, so that his sons could be the first in our family to go to college.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
After her father’s cruel remarks, Stone told him that she had no intention of ever marrying and that she wished she were even plainer so that no one would ever ask her.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
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.
