Celebrate – Meaning, Definition, Synonyms and Antonyms
Celebrate is a verb in English. It means to mark a special occasion or achievement with joy, ceremonies, or shared happiness (for example, by having a party, giving thanks, or taking part in a ritual).
Meaning:
To celebrate means to recognize something important by expressing happiness and doing enjoyable activities. People often celebrate celebrations like birthdays, victories, or holidays—and they may also celebrate smaller milestones, such as finishing a project.
Definition:
When you celebrate, you acknowledge a moment positively—usually by gathering together, holding a ceremony, or showing joy. The verb can also mean to treat something as worthy of praise or attention, even if the “event” is more formal (for example, celebrating an author’s work in a reading).
In terms of origin, celebrate comes from Latin celebrare, meaning “to celebrate, praise, or hold a festival.” The word entered English through French, and it has been used since the medieval period to describe public festivals and ceremonies.
Example Sentences:
- We celebrate his birthday every year with family dinner.
- They celebrated their anniversary by taking a short trip.
- The town celebrated the victory with a parade downtown.
- Our team celebrates good results by sharing progress updates in meetings.
- She celebrated the completion of her certification with a small ceremony at work.
Celebrate Synonyms:
- Commemorate
- Honor
- Rejoice (to feel or show great joy)
- Observe (to recognize a day/event, often formally)
- Jubilate (to express joy, especially in a formal or poetic way)
- Jubilant (describes the joyful mood people show when they celebrate)
- Joy (the feeling that often motivates celebration)
- Mark (to note and acknowledge an occasion)
- Toast (to drink and show good wishes during an occasion)
- Appreciate (to show gratitude for an achievement, especially in a positive way)
Celebrate Antonyms:
- Lament
- Grieve
- Commiserate
- Condole
- Weep
- Mourn
- Regret (to feel sorrow about something)
- Despair
- Reproach (to criticize harshly instead of praising)
- Ignore (to not acknowledge an event)
If you’re comparing moods and word choices, the related vocabulary around happiness can help: see happy and cheerful.
Explore more positive words that start with C
