celebrate
celebrate
Pronunciation
/ˈsɛl.ə.breɪt/
Cel-
/s/: voiceless alveolar fricative
/ɛ/: open-mid front unrounded vowel
/l/: alveolar lateral approximant
-e-
/ə/: schwa (mid-central unrounded vowel)
-brate
/b/: voiced bilabial plosive
/r/: alveolar approximant
/eɪ/: diphthong (starts as a close-mid front unrounded vowel and glides towards a near-close near-front unrounded vowel)
/t/: voiceless alveolar plosive
Word Form Variations
Verb:
celebrate (base form, used with "I, you, we, they", and for the imperative) - I celebrate my birthday every year.
celebrates (third person singular present tense) - He celebrates his victory.
celebrated (past tense and past participle) - We celebrated last night. / The celebrated artist unveiled his new work.
celebrating (present participle/gerund) - They are celebrating their anniversary. / Celebrating is always fun.
Noun:
celebration (singular) - The town held a grand celebration.
celebrations (plural) - There were many celebrations after the win.
celebrant (a person who celebrates or officiates a ceremony) - The celebrant led the service.
celebrator (a person who celebrates) - The jubilant celebrators danced in the streets.
Adjective:
celebrated (meaning famous or highly esteemed) - She is a celebrated author.
celebratory (relating to or expressing celebration) - They had a celebratory dinner.
celebrative (less common, similar to celebratory)
Adverb:
celebratedly (in a celebrated or famous manner, less common) - The discovery was celebratedly announced.
celebratorily (in a celebratory manner, less common) - They shouted celebratorily.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
celebrate
Definition: To joyfully mark or commemorate a significant occasion, achievement, or person with special activities, gatherings, or expressions of happiness.
Example: The community decided to celebrate the founding of their village with a week-long festival.
Synonyms: commemorate, observe, honor, fete, rejoice, party, jubilate
Antonyms: mourn, lament, grieve, disregard, ignore, overlook
Definition: To publicly acknowledge and praise someone or something for their admirable qualities, achievements, or importance, often elevating their status.
Example: Critics celebrated the young artist for her groundbreaking work.
Synonyms: praise, laud, extol, commend, acclaim, glorify, magnify
Antonyms: criticize, condemn, denounce, disparage, belittle, defame
Noun
celebration
Definition: An event, gathering, or series of activities organized to mark a special occasion, achievement, or remembrance with joy and festivity.
Example: The wedding celebration included dancing, music, and a grand feast.
Synonyms: festivity, party, fete, commemoration, observance, jubilee, gala, revelry
Antonyms: mourning, lamentation, funeral, wake, somberness
Definition: The act or state of commemorating an event or expressing joy and admiration for something or someone.
Example: There was a widespread celebration across the city after the team won the championship.
Synonyms: rejoicing, jubilation, merriment, commendation, homage, tribute
Antonyms: grieving, lamenting, criticism, denouncement, disparagement
celebrant
Definition: A person who is participating in or leading a celebration, particularly in a formal or religious context.
Example: The chief celebrant led the congregation in the ancient ritual.
Synonyms: participant, officiant, minister, conductor, principal
Antonyms: observer (in a non-participatory sense), attendee (if not actively participating)
celebrator
Definition: An individual who is actively engaging in an act of celebrating, often characterized by expressions of joy or festivity.
Example: The streets were filled with enthusiastic celebrators after the concert.
Synonyms: reveler, merrymaker, partygoer, jubilant person
Antonyms: mourner, lamenter, quiet observer
Adjective
celebrated
Definition: Widely known and admired for distinguished achievements, qualities, or popularity.
Example: She is a celebrated scientist, renowned for her contributions to astrophysics.
Synonyms: famous, renowned, acclaimed, illustrious, prominent, esteemed, eminent
Antonyms: unknown, obscure, unheralded, anonymous, notorious (in a negative sense), forgotten
celebratory
Definition: Characterized by or expressing joy, festivity, and commemoration.
Example: The team shared a celebratory toast after their victory.
Synonyms: festive, jubilant, joyous, triumphant, commemorative, festive
Antonyms: somber, mournful, solemn, gloomy, melancholic
Adverb
celebratedly
Definition: In a manner that is widely recognized, famous, or noteworthy. (Less common in everyday use)
Example: The artist's unique style was celebratedly innovative.
Synonyms: famously, prominently, renownedly, illustriously
Antonyms: obscurely, anonymously, unremarkably
celebratorily
Definition: In a manner that expresses or pertains to celebration. (Less common in everyday use)
Example: They shouted celebratorily as the fireworks began.
Synonyms: joyfully, festively, jubilantly, triumphantly
Antonyms: mournfully, somberly, sadly, solemnly
Examples of Use
Books:
"Every one of them was a gift, to be opened and examined and celebrated." (Kristin Hannah, The Great Alone)
"We celebrate the courage of those who choose to live authentically, even when it is difficult." (Brené Brown, Daring Greatly)
Newspapers:
"Thousands gathered in the city center to celebrate the national team's historic victory." (The Guardian, June 28, 2024)
"The article celebrated the resilience of the local community after the natural disaster." (Daily Nation, 2025)
Online Publications:
"Here's how streaming services are helping fans celebrate Pride Month 2024." (Variety.com, June 5, 2024)
"This new research celebrates the intricate design of the universe, offering fresh perspectives on cosmic origins." (Space.com, July 1, 2025)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "It's a time to celebrate, so throw your cares away!" (Kool & The Gang, "Celebration" lyrics)
Film: A headline promoting a movie: "A Heartfelt Celebration of Friendship and Family" (Rotten Tomatoes review snippet for a hypothetical film)
Television: "Tonight, we celebrate the life and legacy of a true television icon." (Opening monologue of a late-night talk show tribute episode)
Social Media (Hypothetical Post): "So excited to celebrate my graduation with friends and family this weekend! 🎓 #ClassOf2025 #Graduation" (Instagram post)
General Public Discourse (Common Phrases & Scenarios):
"Let's celebrate your promotion with dinner tonight!" (A friend to another)
"We always celebrate Christmas with a big family gathering." (A casual conversation about traditions)
"It's important to celebrate the small victories as much as the big ones." (A motivational speaker)
"The whole town joined in the celebration of the new park's opening." (A local resident describing an event)
"She's a truly celebrated chef in the culinary world." (Someone discussing a famous person)
10 Famous Quotes Using Celebrate
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." (Martin Luther King Jr. – While not using "celebrate," it implies the need to embrace and honor shared humanity, a metaphorical "celebration" of unity).
"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." (Oprah Winfrey)
"Life is a journey, and if you fall in love with the journey, you will be in love forever." (Peter Hagerty – This quote, while not using "celebrate," encourages an appreciative and joyful engagement with life, akin to celebrating it).
"We are born to celebrate life." (Maya Angelou)
"Every day is a gift. That's why they call it the present." (Eleanor Roosevelt – This quote emphasizes the preciousness of each day, encouraging a celebratory outlook).
"Don't celebrate until you've reached the finish line." (Popular sporting adage, often attributed to various coaches)
"This is a celebration of a lifetime of love and joy." (From the film Love Actually, a common phrase in wedding contexts)
"It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful." (David Steindl-Rast – This quote highlights the internal state that leads to a celebratory spirit).
"Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words." (William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part II)
"The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one's destiny to do, and then do it." (Henry Ford – This quote, by focusing on fulfilling one's purpose, suggests a life well-lived and worthy of internal "celebration" or satisfaction).
Etymology
Let's break down where the word "celebrate" comes from in a simple way.
Imagine going way back in time to ancient Rome. They had a Latin word, "celebrare," which is the direct ancestor of our "celebrate."
Now, what did "celebrare" mean to the Romans? It had a couple of key ideas:
"To frequent or throng (a place)": Think of a place that was often visited, perhaps for important events or gatherings. If a temple was "celebrated," it meant lots of people were always there.
"To honor, to solemnize, to observe": This is where the more familiar meaning starts to come in. If you "celebrare" an event, you were marking it with some kind of ceremony, often a public one, making it important and memorable.
So, the very first known uses of the word (or its Latin root) were about making something public, well-attended, and distinguished, often with a sense of solemnity or honor.
When the word eventually made its way into English, around the late 14th century, it kept these core ideas. Its initial meaning in English was to "perform a religious ceremony" or "solemnize (a feast)." It was still very much tied to formal, often public, observances.
Over time, the meaning broadened. From solemn religious ceremonies, it expanded to include any kind of joyful occasion or accomplishment that you want to mark and honor, whether it's a birthday, a victory, or just life itself. But at its heart, it still carries that ancient Roman idea of making something significant by giving it attention and honor.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Celebrate
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "celebrate" and its related concepts:
Celebrate good times: A direct reference to the popular song by Kool & The Gang, meaning to enjoy and acknowledge positive moments.
Celebrate life: To appreciate and enjoy the experience of living, often with a positive and grateful outlook.
Celebrate a milestone: To mark an important point of achievement in a journey or process.
To celebrate someone's legacy: To honor and remember the lasting impact or achievements of an individual after their passing.
To celebrate small victories: To acknowledge and appreciate minor successes, not just major accomplishments.
To celebrate a win/victory: To mark the occasion of triumph or success.
A cause for celebration: Something that provides a good reason to celebrate.
In celebration of [something]: Used to indicate that an action or event is being done to honor or mark a specific occasion.
To roll out the red carpet (for a celebration): To make elaborate preparations to welcome or honor someone or something, often implying a grand celebration. (Synonym for similar effect)
To paint the town red: To go out and have a lively, festive time, often implying celebration. (Synonym for similar effect)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of celebrate from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
