anniversary
a-nih-VURS-ree
Anniversary (noun) means the yearly date on which a significant past event, such as a wedding, is remembered or celebrated. Example: “They celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in Italy.”
noun
1
The yearly date on which a significant past event, such as a wedding, is remembered or celebrated.
"They celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in Italy."
"The company marked its fiftieth anniversary with a big event."
"Every year on our anniversary, we cook the meal we had on our first date."
How to use anniversary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe yearly date marking a past event.
Common pairings
wedding anniversary
anniversary gift
mark the anniversary
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Word forms
- Plural
- anniversaries
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They celebrated their tenth wedding _____ in Italy.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin anniversarius ("returning yearly"), from annus ("year") + versus, from vertere ("to turn").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for anniversary
See all rhymes for anniversary →Frequently asked questions
What does “anniversary” mean?
The word “anniversary” means the yearly date on which a significant past event, such as a wedding, is remembered or celebrated. In plain terms, the yearly date marking a past event.
How do you pronounce “anniversary”?
“Anniversary” is pronounced a-nih-VURS-ree (/ˌænɪˈvɝs(ə)ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “anniversary” in a sentence?
Here is “anniversary” used in a sentence: “They celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in Italy.”
What is another word for “anniversary”?
Words with a similar meaning to “anniversary” include anniv, yearday and yeartide.
What part of speech is “anniversary”?
“Anniversary” is a noun.
Where does the word “anniversary” come from?
The word “anniversary” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin anniversarius ("returning yearly"), from annus ("year") + versus, from vertere ("to turn").
Is “anniversary” a common word?
“Anniversary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between an anniversary and a birthday?
Both return once a year, but a birthday marks the day a person was born, while an anniversary marks any significant past event on its yearly date — a wedding, a first meeting, a company's founding. Every birthday is technically an anniversary of a birth, but not every anniversary is a birthday.
Does 'anniversary' only refer to weddings?
No. Weddings are the most common example, but an anniversary can mark any notable event remembered year after year — the anniversary of a business opening, a historic battle, a loved one's passing or a country's independence. The word simply means the yearly return of a meaningful date.
What are milestone wedding anniversaries called?
Certain years have traditional names, often linked to gift materials. The best known are the silver anniversary at 25 years, the ruby at 40, the golden at 50 and the diamond at 60. Earlier years have their own themes too, such as paper for the first and wood for the fifth.
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