celebrate

[sel-uh-breyt] /ˈsɛl əˌbreɪt/
verb (used with object), celebrated, celebrating.
1.
to observe (a day) or commemorate (an event) with ceremonies or festivities:
to celebrate Christmas; to celebrate the success of a new play.
2.
to make known publicly; proclaim:
The newspaper celebrated the end of the war in red headlines.
3.
to praise widely or to present to widespread and favorable public notice, as through newspapers or novels:
a novel celebrating the joys of marriage; the countryside celebrated in the novels of Hardy.
4.
to perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies; solemnize:
to celebrate a marriage.
verb (used without object), celebrated, celebrating.
5.
to observe a day or commemorate an event with ceremonies or festivities.
6.
to perform a religious ceremony, especially Mass or the Lord's Supper.
7.
to have or participate in a party, drinking spree, or uninhibited good time:
You look like you were up celebrating all night.
Origin
1425-75; late Middle English < Latin celebrātus past participle of celebrāre to solemnize, celebrate, honor, equivalent to celebr- (stem of celeber) often repeated, famous + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
celebrative, adjective
celebrator, celebrater, noun
celebratory
[sel-uh-bruh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, suh-leb-ruh-] /ˈsɛl ə brəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, səˈlɛb rə-/ (Show IPA), adjective
precelebrate, verb, precelebrated, precelebrating.
recelebrate, verb, recelebrated, recelebrating.
uncelebrating, adjective
Can be confused
celebrate, celibate, cerebrate.
Synonyms
1. honor, solemnize. 3. laud, glorify, honor, applaud, commend.
Examples from the web for celebrate
  • We solicitously and apologetically caress and celebrate him because he held on his way and scorned our disapprobation.
  • It grew to be especially the negroes' day, all of the blacks of the city and neighboring country gathering to celebrate it.
  • They not only cope well during hardship but also celebrate the happy moments and work to build more of these into their lives.
  • Still, one has to celebrate even the small victories.
  • Others might celebrate it as the sight and sound of jobs, money being made, and energy being supplied.
  • They show the mob of people who took to the streets to celebrate.
  • The first anniversary of the rescue mission has been nothing to celebrate.
  • With less to celebrate, champagne exports are also suffering.
  • The cooking fires lit to celebrate the feast day spread in the high winds until almost all the city was ablaze.
  • The new demographics that are causing populations to age and to shrink are something to celebrate.
British Dictionary definitions for celebrate

celebrate

/ˈsɛlɪˌbreɪt/
verb
1.
to rejoice in or have special festivities to mark (a happy day, event, etc)
2.
(transitive) to observe (a birthday, anniversary, etc): she celebrates her ninetieth birthday next month
3.
(transitive) to perform (a solemn or religious ceremony), esp to officiate at (Mass)
4.
(transitive) to praise publicly; proclaim
Derived Forms
celebration, noun
celebrative, adjective
celebrator, noun
celebratory, adjective
Word Origin
C15: from Latin celebrāre, from celeber numerous, thronged, renowned
Word Origin and History for celebrate
v.

mid-15c., originally of the Mass, from Latin celebratus "much-frequented; kept solemn; famous," past participle of celebrare "assemble to honor," also "to publish; sing praises of; practice often," originally "to frequent in great numbers," from celeber "frequented, populous, crowded;" with transferred senses of "well-attended; famous; often-repeated." Related: Celebrated; celebrating.