celebrate

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈsɛl.ɪ.breɪt/ or /ˈsɛl.ə.breɪt/; SAMPA: /"sEl.I.breIt/ or /"sEl.@.breIt/

• Audio (US)

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Verb

Plain form celebrate

Third-person singular celebrates

Past tense celebrated

Past participle celebrated

Present participle celebrating

1. (transitive & intransitive) If you celebrate something, you do something special to show that you are happy about it.

   The town celebrates its 200th anniversary this Saturday by launching 20,000 balloons.

   Some American homes are treeless during Christmas as these families celebrate other holidays.

   Fans poured into the streets to celebrate after their team's victory.

2. (transitive) When you celebrate something, you perform or participate in it, usually a sacrament or solemn rite.

   The Christians gathered together to celebrate a mass.

Related words

• celebrated
• uncelebrated
• celebration
• celebratory
• celebrity