Home British & World English celebrate

Definition of celebrate in English:

celebrate

verb

[with object]

1Acknowledge (a significant or happy day or event) with a social gathering or enjoyable activity.
‘they were celebrating their wedding anniversary at a swanky restaurant’
no object ‘she celebrated with a glass of champagne’
‘wildlife campaigners celebrated after their victory’
- ‘A group of young friends are reaching the end of Year 10 and want to celebrate with gusto.’
- ‘The university community is invited to three public events to celebrate the occasion.’
- ‘If I win I will celebrate in style, with copious amounts of champagne.’
- ‘Bastille Day is the national holiday in France, celebrated annually on July 14.’
- ‘Afterwards the wedding party celebrated the great day at the Seven Oaks, Carlow.’
- ‘Have servers ask as a matter of course whether anyone at the table is celebrating a birthday, anniversary or promotion.’
- ‘The occasion is still celebrated as a national holiday with parades and festivals.’
- ‘‘The radio link will allow women on the outer islands to report on their activities to celebrate the day,’ says Teao.’
- ‘No one knows exactly when the tradition got started in St Lucia but the event is celebrated with gusto and much frivolity with activities lasting up to a week.’
- ‘Families around us celebrated birthdays and anniversaries while a jazz quartet - albeit one infused with a Latin beat - played in the background.’
- ‘To celebrate the occasion the happy couple renewed their wedding vows and enjoyed the celebrations with their family and close friends in the Waterford Manor Hotel.’
- ‘To make the staff feel at home, she frequently organises fares to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries of staff families.’
- ‘A North Yorkshire equality campaigner is celebrating a landmark victory in the House of Commons which will enable men over 60 to claim free bus travel.’
- ‘Birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated grandly; sometimes the stars are even gifted with crowns or other expensive items.’
- ‘Oak, rowan and birch trees can be bought in memory of a loved one or to celebrate an anniversary or birthday.’
- ‘They have helped to celebrate the birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings of countless people across York.’
- ‘Communities across Australia will be celebrating the event with tree planting activities to green up Australia.’
- ‘Tennis fans were today celebrating a major victory in their fight to secure a new tennis centre for York.’
- ‘David celebrated on Good Friday last, with a party enjoyed by all in attendance.’
- ‘People were still celebrating yesterday in other parts of the Dales, too.’
- ‘Happy anniversary to Leo and Kitty Burke, who celebrated their special day recently.’
- ‘Last week I was due to celebrate our wedding anniversary in Venice.’
- ‘If Saturday night was any indication, it would appear that the parishioners of St Paul Lutheran Church in Steinbach know a thing or two about celebrating a centennial birthday.’
- ‘For all you fellow bloggers and visitors out there who celebrate Valentine's Day, here's wishing you an enjoyable one tomorrow.’
- ‘It's her birthday on Sunday but because she is being whisked away for a romantic mini break, we shall gather the troops to celebrate her happy day next week.’
- ‘Staff at the Fat Cat are planning to hold a party to celebrate their success and plan to get ‘very merry’.’
- ‘Brigid was given a surprise party to celebrate her big day.’
- ‘The study doesn't mention all the cakes people eat to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, engagements and to mark the departure of a colleague.’
- ‘She is planning a formal wedding and reception to celebrate the happy event.’
- ‘Many happy returns to Margaret and Pat James Duffy who are celebrating their wedding anniversary on Friday June 6th.’
- ‘Teachers from Banglamung district, VIPs and over 2,000 people from the general public gathered to celebrate this special day.’
- ‘Dartford Museum is celebrating the centenary of the Wright brothers' first powered flight with a display.’
- ‘Asked how he would be celebrating his honour he said: ‘I might have a pint.’’
- ‘A Mayo couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a special get-together in England.’
- ‘For their part, the Central Festival Center organized music shows, dance demonstrations and a whole day of fun activities to celebrate the historic event.’
- ‘Students and teachers from Annandale North Public School are celebrating the end of a four-year battle to extend their playground.’
- ‘A husband and wife are celebrating the dubious honour of being crowned Yorkshire's most unromantic couple.’
- ‘Nonetheless, the family still gather every year to celebrate Mum's wedding anniversary.’
- ‘To be fair, the place is regularly filled with people celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and weddings and the like.’
- ‘Two of her nieces attended the party to help celebrate her special day.’
commemorate, observe, honour, mark, salute, recognize, acknowledge, remember, memorialize, keep, drink to, toast, drink a toast to
enjoy oneself, make merry, have fun, have a good time, have a wild time, rave, party, have a party, eat, drink, and be merry, revel, roister, carouse, kill the fatted calf, put the flag out, put the flags out
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1. 1.1 Reach (a birthday or anniversary)
  ‘the programme celebrates its 40th birthday this year’
  ‘Les, Robyn, and Steve are all celebrating birthdays this weekend.’
  ‘If your pampered poodle is celebrating a birthday you can also pick up a Dogsters frozen ‘special occasion cake.’’
  ‘A primary school pupil celebrating his seventh birthday was due to unveil a £151,000 revamp at a Melksham supermarket.’
  ‘It represents an early birthday present for the £900m shopping mall, which celebrates its fifth anniversary next month.’
  ‘Also celebrating her birthday is Kate O'Neill, Avondale, Waterford, who reached her latest milestone on Tuesday, September 13.’
  ‘A Lisselton woman celebrates a birthday with a difference this Tuesday as she reaches the magical 100 mark.’
  ‘Carlow College of Music, under its Director of Music, Majella Swan, B.Mus, H. Dip, in Ed., is celebrating its tenth birthday.’
  ‘The Platinum clubhouse is celebrating its third birthday this month.’
  ‘Today my sister Rufie is celebrating her birthday.’
  ‘Damien is also celebrating his birthday today.’
  ‘Mr Clinton was delighted to hear that Orla will be celebrating her tenth birthday on the tenth anniversary of the first IRA ceasefire next week.’
  ‘He celebrated his birthday on Monday, the anniversary of the infamous 1963 robbery.’
  ‘It's also the choice of our sister-in-law, who's celebrating a birthday, and the choice of several other women who'll be in the audience.’
  ‘Fibbers, the York live music café bar in Stonebow, is celebrating its tenth birthday this weekend; but why is it called Fibbers?’
  ‘The school - which has just celebrated its centenary - is owned by the Licensed Trade Charity.’
  ‘A number of centenarians celebrated their birthdays earlier this year.’
  ‘Speaking of sound engineers (and, indeed, of sound men), a gentleman of the Australian nation is celebrating his fortieth birthday today.’
  ‘Also celebrating his birthday on Saturday, September 17, was Michael Kiely, Waterford, who turned the big 40 at the weekend.’
  ‘Maestro Camplin was especially charming about halfway through the evening, when he asked if anyone in the audience was celebrating a birthday.’
  ‘Orkney's oldest resident celebrated her birthday on Wednesday, reaching the grand old age of 103.’
  herald, signal, announce, proclaim, usher in, introduce, launch, mark, signify, indicate, give notice of
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2Perform (a religious ceremony), in particular officiate at (the Eucharist)
‘he celebrated holy communion’
- ‘It was the first time the enrolment ceremony for these Sacraments was celebrated within the Mass.’
- ‘Fr Paul also celebrated his Requiem Mass where he paid tributes to Larry.’
- ‘A Latin Mass in the old Rite was celebrated by Fr. Robert Ruttledge in Rathduff Church on Sunday evening last.’
- ‘Mass will celebrated for the repose of his soul in Castlebar at a later date.’
- ‘The following day Fr. Shanahan celebrated Requiem Mass and he was assisted by Fr. Crowley.’
- ‘Father Purcell celebrated the Requiem Mass in Dunhill Church and the soloist was Margaret Moore.’
- ‘In the early Church, as in the Synagogue, the altar was a sacred table upon which were placed the books and instruments used to celebrate the Eucharistic sacrament, or Mass.’
- ‘Fr. Peter Gannon celebrated the Mass and officiated at the ceremony.’
- ‘Grange priest Father Christy McHugh celebrated Mass at Staid Abbey for the first time in over 400 years.’
- ‘Fr. John O'Gorman celebrated the Requiem Mass for the late Jack Curran in Newcastle Church near Athenry last Thursday.’
- ‘James Conor Coleman, Cross, Edmondstown recently celebrated the sacrament of Baptism in Monasteraden.’
- ‘That would see ordained lay deacons performing most of the functions of a priest, apart from celebrating the Eucharist.’
- ‘Clonaghadoo's annual cemetery Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, July 4th at 4pm.’
- ‘Travers celebrated the Requiem Mass and delivered a lovely ceremony celebrating the life of Dessie and referring to his special love for music and life.’
- ‘If you have a child for Baptism you are asked to give two weeks' notice so the Baptismal team and the priest scheduled to celebrate the ceremony may arrange to visit you.’
- ‘The Pope said Catholic priests were forbidden to celebrate Eucharistic liturgies with Protestant ministers.’
- ‘Fr. Colm Burke celebrated the Requiem Mass and Eddie was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.’
- ‘If the weather is unsuitable, the Mass will be celebrated in the church.’
- ‘In my early years I was puzzled by the fact that a priest from a neighboring men's cloister came to celebrate the liturgy exclusively for women.’
- ‘Requiem Mass was celebrated for the repose of his soul on Monday in Meelick Church.’
perform, observe, officiate at, preside at, solemnize, ceremonialize
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3Honour or praise publicly.
‘a film celebrating the actor's career’
- ‘I do think it's time to celebrate what's on our doorstep.’
- ‘Her own marriage, to celebrated New Yorker film reviewer Anthony Lane, could not survive without it.’
- ‘‘It is to inspire an interest and love of international cinema and to celebrate the art of film,’ she said.’
- ‘Yet the film celebrates the idea that if you have the will and tenacity, you can come through hard times, and that there's no need to depend on the federal government to save you.’
- ‘Those leaders now perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity are celebrated and honoured.’
- ‘The media across the Islamic Arab world have endorsed that promise, praised the film, and celebrated its new life in the United States.’
- ‘Those honoured include celebrated benefactor John Harrison, brewer Joshua Tetley and cricket legend Sir Leonard Hutton.’
- ‘Mostly the film celebrates friendship and enjoying life (which seems to be having friends, sex, food and wine), though it's not as hedonistic as it sounds.’
- ‘For all it pretends to laugh at that 1950s ideal, covertly the film celebrates it.’
- ‘Russian Ark is a film that celebrates high culture unequivocally.’
- ‘We're saying that cinema can be an event, it can be a fun place where film is celebrated.’
- ‘One is a film that celebrates the wholesome things in American life: men on horseback, women weaving tapestries, oil well firefighters in Texas.’
- ‘The hall of fame was instituted four years ago and honours and celebrates a combination of past broadcasters and those who continue to enliven the airwaves and engage and entrance the imagination of listeners.’
- ‘Four categories have been created to make sure that all elements of community work are celebrated, with honours being handed out to those champions who have gone the extra mile for the sake of creating a better way of life.’
- ‘The theme will be to celebrate who and what make up the essence of Keighley.’
- ‘"Natural Forms" is a fascinating exhibition celebrating nature in its lyrical diversity.’
- ‘This is an opportunity to celebrate your neighbours and honour volunteers in your community.’
- ‘Four major exhibitions celebrate different aspects of Turner's artistic achievement this season.’
- ‘Several universities, institutes and schools in the U.S., India and other countries have been honouring Chawla with awards celebrating her spirit.’
- ‘Whilst both books should be celebrated and praised as artistic successes, it is Brite's novel which is truly the more shocking work.’
acclaimed, admired, highly rated, lionized, revered, honoured, esteemed, exalted, lauded, vaunted, much touted, well thought of, well received, acknowledged
praise, laud, extol, glorify, eulogize, reverence, honour, pay tribute to, pay homage to, salute, hymn, sing
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Origin

Late Middle English (in celebrate (sense 2)): from Latin celebrat- ‘celebrated’, from the verb celebrare, from celeber, celebr- ‘frequented or honoured’.