verb
christen
KRIH-suhn
Christen (verb) means to baptise someone, especially a baby, and give them a name in a Christian ceremony. Example: “They christened their daughter at the local church.”
verb
1
To baptise someone, especially a baby, and give them a name in a Christian ceremony.
"They christened their daughter at the local church."
2
To name something or use it for the first time.
"The order to rename the oiler ship USNS Harvey Milk – christened four years ago – is unusual but is in line with the White House mandate to reverse a number of military initiatives by Democratic presidents."
— Andy Rose, Gay rights icon Harvey Milk’s legacy slighted by decision to rename Navy ship (2025)
"The mayor christened the new bridge with a bottle of champagne."
"I christened my new boots today with a walk in the snow."
"I christen this ship the Bonny Barnacle."
How to use christen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo baptise and name a child, or more loosely, to name or first use something.
Common pairings
christen a baby
christen a ship
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- christens
- Past tense
- christened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They _____ their daughter at the local church.
Etymology
From Old English cristnian, "to baptise," built from cristen ("Christian") plus a verb-forming ending.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for christen
See all rhymes for christen →Frequently asked questions
What does “christen” mean?
The word “christen” means to baptise someone, especially a baby, and give them a name in a Christian ceremony. In plain terms, to baptise and name a child, or more loosely, to name or first use something.
How do you pronounce “christen”?
“Christen” is pronounced KRIH-suhn (/ˈkɹɪsən/ in IPA).
How do you use “christen” in a sentence?
Here is “christen” used in a sentence: “They christened their daughter at the local church.”
What part of speech is “christen”?
“Christen” is a verb.
Where does the word “christen” come from?
The word “christen” comes from Old English. From Old English cristnian, "to baptise," built from cristen ("Christian") plus a verb-forming ending.
How many meanings does “christen” have?
“Christen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to baptise someone, especially a baby, and give them a name in a Christian ceremony.
