celebrate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'celebrate' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a joyful event or occasion, such as a birthday, anniversary, or holiday. For example, "We celebrated my brother's graduation with a dinner party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Travel

Music

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With events taking place at venues ranging from tiny, niche museums in Orkney and Norfolk to national giants such at the Natural History Museum and the V&A, the founding ethos of the festival is to celebrate the diverse and often quirky cultural landscape of Britain and to give a voice and platform to smaller institutions.

The Guardian

United's manager, Steve Evans, raced to the away end on the final whistle to celebrate a result that put his side nine points clear of Wigan in 22nd.

The Guardian - Sport

To quote one of our users: "Tomorrow I celebrate Valentine's Day.

The Guardian - Opinion

A local boy made good, he declined to celebrate his part in the Bluebirds' demise.

The Guardian - Sport

When Pietroni became a distinguished academic, he threw a party to celebrate, to which a couple of Americans were invited.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Help us to celebrate women's literary achievements by adding your favourite books written by women in the comments below – as well as the story of how it earned a place on your shelves.

The Guardian - Books

I celebrate my birthday in the morning with my girlfriends over brunch and, in the evening, I order in and cuddle up with my dog.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some celebrate multiculturalism for having transformed Britain into a vibrant, cosmopolitan nation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Here, to celebrate its birthday, we share our top 10 favourite quotes!

The Guardian

The history of architecture and design is a history of copying, sampling and remixing, so why not celebrate the fact?

The Guardian - Arts

On Saturday the group from the Upton Community Protection Camp are holding a party for the local community to celebrate the first anniversary of occupation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "celebrate" to highlight positive aspects or milestones rather than trivial or negative occurrences. It reinforces a positive tone in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "celebrate" when a more neutral term like "acknowledge" or "recognize" would be more suitable. Using "celebrate" for routine events can diminish its impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "celebrate" is as a verb, indicating the action of honoring or acknowledging a special occasion or achievement. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across a wide variety of sentence structures, for example, "They think we will run and hide and be sad and depressed but we celebrate our diversity."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Travel

5%

Music

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "celebrate" is a versatile term used to express joy, appreciation, and recognition of significant events or achievements. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts, particularly in news media. While generally neutral in tone, it carries a positive connotation, marking occasions as special and worthy of acknowledgment. When using the word, it is important to specify the event being celebrated and to avoid overuse in contexts where more neutral terms might be appropriate. Alternatives include "commemorate", "honor", and "observe", each with slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commemorate

Focuses more on remembering and honoring, often with a formal observance.

rejoice

Stresses feelings of great happiness and joy, often in a religious context.

honor

Emphasizes respect and high regard, suitable for recognizing achievements or individuals.

fete

Suggests lavish celebrations and entertainment.

observe

Implies a more formal or traditional recognition of an event or occasion.

mark

Highlights the act of acknowledging an event, often without necessarily implying joy.

make merry

Suggests a lighthearted and joyful celebration, often with music and dancing.

have a party

Implies a social gathering for enjoyment.

paint the town red

Means to go out and enjoy oneself exuberantly, often involving visiting bars and clubs.

lionize

To treat someone as a celebrity.

FAQs

How can I use "celebrate" in a sentence?

You can use "celebrate" to describe honoring an event or achievement with joy. For instance, "We will "celebrate" the team's victory with a parade".

What are some synonyms for "celebrate"?

Alternatives to "celebrate" include "commemorate", "honor", and "observe", each carrying slightly different connotations depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to "celebrate" a somber occasion?

While "celebrate" typically implies joy, it can be used for somber occasions if the intent is to honor or remember, but consider alternatives like "commemorate" for greater sensitivity.

What's the difference between "celebrate" and "commemorate"?

"Celebrate" emphasizes joy and festivity, while "commemorate" focuses on remembering and honoring, often with a more solemn tone.