celebrate
C1Neutral, used across formal, informal, and religious contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To acknowledge a significant or happy event or day with a social gathering or enjoyable activity.
To publicly praise or acknowledge the importance of someone or something; to perform a religious ceremony, especially Mass; (of a priest) to officiate at the Eucharist.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb has both secular (party/acknowledge) and sacred (perform ritual) meanings. The object can be the event (celebrate a birthday), the person (celebrate the artist), or the occasion (celebrate Mass).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Celebrant' (one who celebrates) is more common in religious/secular US usage. 'To celebrate Mass' is slightly more formal/ecclesiastical in UK.
Connotations
Identical core connotations of joy and commemoration.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VN] (celebrate something)[V] (They celebrated all night.)[VN -ing] (We celebrated winning the contract.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Celebrate in style”
- “Have something to celebrate”
- “A cause for celebration”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To mark a company milestone, a successful product launch, or annual results.
Academic
To acknowledge a major scholarly achievement or the legacy of a theorist.
Everyday
To mark personal events like birthdays, weddings, and holidays.
Technical
In theology/liturgy: to perform a religious rite, especially the Eucharist.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with a garden party.
- The priest will celebrate Mass at noon.
- The whole street celebrated when the local team won the cup.
American English
- We're going to celebrate the 4th of July with a barbecue.
- The gallery is celebrating the artist with a new exhibition.
- He celebrated by ordering an expensive champagne.
adverb
British English
- They danced celebratorily around the bonfire.
American English
- He waved the flag celebratorily from the rooftop.
adjective
British English
- The celebratory mood was palpable after the referendum result.
- She wore a celebratory hat to the fête.
American English
- The celebratory parade marched down Main Street.
- He opened a celebratory beer after finishing the project.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We celebrate birthdays with cake.
- They celebrated the New Year with fireworks.
- How will you celebrate your graduation?
- The town celebrated its 500th anniversary with a huge festival.
- The biography celebrates her lifelong dedication to science.
- Having secured funding, the team celebrated their success late into the night.
- The novel celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
- The court's decision was widely celebrated as a victory for civil rights.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CELEB-rate' – a celebrity has a party to celebrate their fame.
Conceptual Metaphor
HAPPINESS IS UP/A FESTIVAL ('spirits were high', 'a celebration erupted').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'celebrate' for marking a sad memorial day (use 'commemorate' or 'observe').
- Do not confuse with 'congratulate' (поздравлять). You congratulate a person, but celebrate an event.
- The noun 'celebrity' (знаменитость) is a false friend derived from 'celebrate' but has a distinct meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *We celebrated him for his promotion. (Correct: We congratulated him.../celebrated his promotion.)
- Incorrect: *Let's celebrate that you are here. (Correct: Let's celebrate your arrival/your being here.)
- Overusing 'celebrate' for minor events where 'mark' or 'acknowledge' is more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'celebrate' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
You 'celebrate' an event, achievement, or occasion. You 'congratulate' a person. We celebrated the company's success. I congratulated my colleague on her promotion.
Typically no. 'Celebrate' implies positive acknowledgment. For solemn or tragic events, use 'commemorate', 'mark', or 'observe'. However, one might 'celebrate the life' of a deceased person, focusing on positive remembrance.
Yes, it's commonly used to describe something related to or suitable for a celebration (e.g., a celebratory drink, a celebratory mood).
No. While often involving social activity, it can be a quiet, personal acknowledgment (e.g., celebrating by taking a day off) or a formal, public act (e.g., a speech that celebrates democratic values).