wed
WEHD
Wed (verb) means to marry someone, or to conduct a marriage ceremony joining two people. Example: “They wed in a small ceremony attended only by close family.”
verb
1
To marry someone, or to conduct a marriage ceremony joining two people.
"They wed in a small ceremony attended only by close family."
"The priest wed the couple in the village church."
"My cousin will wed her childhood sweetheart in the garden next June."
2
To commit permanently to something, as if bound to it by marriage.
"The senator seemed wed to his original plan, despite mounting criticism."
"Some managers are so wed to the old system that they resist any change."
"Don't get wed to one idea; stay open to better ones."
How to use wed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo marry, or to become firmly attached to an idea or plan.
Common mistake
"Wed" is more literary/formal than "marry" in everyday speech — "get married" is the common spoken choice.
Common pairings
wed to an idea
newly wed
to wed someone
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- weds
- Past tense
- wedded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They _____ in a small ceremony attended only by close family.
Etymology
From Old English weddian ("to pledge, to wed"), from a Germanic root meaning "pledge" — related to "wage" and "engage".
Related words
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.
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