celebration
sehl-ih-BRAY-shuhn
Celebration (noun) means a gathering or event held to enjoy and mark a happy occasion. Example: “Our neighbours invited everyone to a garden celebration for their daughter's graduation.”
noun
1
A gathering or event held to enjoy and mark a happy occasion.
"Our neighbours invited everyone to a garden celebration for their daughter's graduation."
"The whole street turned out for the street celebration."
"His birthday celebration went on until midnight."
2
The act of expressing joy, pride, or thanks for something.
"The festival is a joyful celebration of music, dance and local traditions."
"There was a real sense of celebration after the team won the cup."
"The book is a celebration of the region's food and culture."
How to use celebration
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA party, event, or feeling that marks and enjoys something good that has happened.
Common pairings
a celebration of
in celebration of
hold a celebration
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Word forms
- Plural
- celebrations
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Our neighbours invited everyone to a garden _____ for their daughter's graduation.
Etymology
From Old French celebration, from Latin celebratio — ultimately from celebrare, "to honour or perform frequently."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for celebration
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for celebration →
Frequently asked questions
What does “celebration” mean?
The word “celebration” means a gathering or event held to enjoy and mark a happy occasion. In plain terms, a party, event, or feeling that marks and enjoys something good that has happened.
How do you pronounce “celebration”?
“Celebration” is pronounced sehl-ih-BRAY-shuhn (/ˌsɛl.əˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “celebration” in a sentence?
Here is “celebration” used in a sentence: “The whole street turned out for the street celebration.”
What is another word for “celebration”?
Words with a similar meaning to “celebration” include entertainment, feast, festival, festivity, function and gathering.
What part of speech is “celebration”?
“Celebration” is a noun.
Where does the word “celebration” come from?
The word “celebration” comes from Latin. From Old French celebration, from Latin celebratio — ultimately from celebrare, "to honour or perform frequently.".
Is “celebration” a common word?
“Celebration” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “celebration” have?
“Celebration” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gathering or event held to enjoy and mark a happy occasion.
What is the difference between a "celebration" and a "ceremony"?
A celebration is a gathering or event held to enjoy and mark a happy occasion, with the focus on joy and festivity. A ceremony is a more formal set of actions performed for a specific occasion, which may be solemn rather than joyful, though a wedding can be both.
When should you use "celebration" instead of "party"?
A celebration emphasizes the reason behind the event, such as marking an achievement, anniversary, or holiday. A party simply describes a social gathering for fun, so a celebration is often a party held for a particular meaningful occasion.
What preposition goes with "celebration"?
You typically hold a celebration "of" something, as in "a celebration of life" or "a celebration of victory." You can also do something "in celebration of" an occasion, meaning to honor or mark it.
Is "celebration" countable or uncountable?
Celebration can be countable when it means an event, as in "they held two celebrations." It is uncountable when it means the act of expressing joy or thanks, as in "a cause for celebration."
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