wed
0 antonyms and opposites of wed, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To marry someone, or to conduct a marriage ceremony joining two people.
How to use wed
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English weddian ("to pledge, to wed"), from a Germanic root meaning "pledge" — related to "wage" and "engage".
Full origin of wed →Frequently asked questions
What does “wed” mean?
The word “wed” means to marry someone, or to conduct a marriage ceremony joining two people. In plain terms, to marry, or to become firmly attached to an idea or plan.
How do you pronounce “wed”?
“Wed” is pronounced WEHD (/ˈwɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “wed” in a sentence?
Here is “wed” used in a sentence: “They wed in a small ceremony attended only by close family.”
What is another word for “wed”?
Words with a similar meaning to “wed” include marry.
What part of speech is “wed”?
“Wed” is a verb.
Where does the word “wed” come from?
The word “wed” comes from Old English. From Old English weddian ("to pledge, to wed"), from a Germanic root meaning "pledge" — related to "wage" and "engage".
Is “wed” a common word?
“Wed” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “wed” have?
“Wed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to marry someone, or to conduct a marriage ceremony joining two people.
What is the difference between wed and married?
Wed and married both describe the act of joining two people in marriage, but wed is often used in more formal, journalistic, or literary contexts, as in "the couple wed last spring." Married is the more common everyday term for the same event.
Can wed be used to describe commitment to an idea rather than marriage?
Yes, wed can mean to commit permanently to something, as if bound to it by marriage, such as "he was wed to the idea of reform." This figurative sense extends the marriage meaning to describe strong, lasting attachment to a plan, belief, or cause.
What is the past tense of wed?
Wed can function as its own past tense, as in "they wed in June," though "wedded" is also an accepted past tense and past participle form. Both forms appear in standard usage, with "wed" being more common in news headlines for brevity.