make merry

USAGE SUMMARY

"make merry" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation when people are celebrating or having a good time. For example, "The guests made merry at the wedding reception."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Terrorists will make merry doing crypto anyway.

The New York Times

America's monthly trade figures will make merry with the dollar.

The Economist

That left $274.28 to eat, drink and make merry.

The New York Times - Travel

Behind them, people make merry in blue-green boskiness.

The New Yorker

Let us laugh and make merry, for we are on the eve of a new era….

The New York Times

It provided a grand opportunity for the pair to make merry at each other's expense.

The Guardian - Music

I'll certainly ponder this next time I'm tempted to make merry with the white sugar.

The Guardian - Opinion

So stuff your hearts (literally), make merry – and parp your way upstairs to the sack.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A pity you can't catch it down your local pub where there might be an opportunity to make merry.

The Guardian - Music

There's a medieval week every year, when locals dress up and make merry, recalling Bergman's breakthrough film, The Seventh Seal.

The Guardian - Travel

The first is Bando de la Huerta, where people dress up as peasants, drink sherry and generally make merry.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Incorporate the phrase in contexts involving communal joy, festivals, or holidays to best match its historical connotations of shared food and drink.

Common error

Avoid misspelling the phrase as "make marry", which is a common error stemming from the identical pronunciation of the words. Furthermore, do not use "make merry" in serious or somber professional reports, as its festive and lighthearted connotation may undermine the gravity of the subject matter.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make merry" functions as an intransitive verb phrase meaning to enjoy oneself in a jolly, festive manner. According to Ludwig, it is often used as a predicate to describe the behavior of groups at social gatherings or celebrations.

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make merry" is a versatile and correct verb phrase used to denote festive enjoyment. With 57 high-quality examples provided by Ludwig, it is evident that the phrase thrives in journalistic and cultural storytelling. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, noting its effectiveness in describing communal celebrations. While it possesses a traditional or even biblical resonance, especially when paired with "eat" and "drink", it remains a staple in modern English for describing holiday activities, social revelry and cultural festivals. Writers should use it to add a touch of classic charm to their descriptions of celebration, while being mindful to avoid spelling errors like "make marry" and ensuring the lighthearted tone fits the overall context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

celebrate

Uses a more direct and standard verb for acknowledging an event or occasion.

revel

Emphasizes the intense and lively nature of the enjoyment, often in a noisy way.

party

Shifts the tone to a more modern and informal register common in social contexts.

have a ball

An idiomatic expression suggesting a high level of personal enjoyment.

rejoice

Conveys a sense of deep happiness or spiritual celebration rather than just social fun.

carouse

Specifically implies a lively celebration that often involves drinking alcohol.

whoop it up

A highly informal and energetic idiom for noisy and excited celebration.

paint the town red

An idiom describing a night out involving wild and flamboyant celebration.

jollify

A more archaic and playful term for making someone or oneself merry.

be festive

Uses an adjective phrase to describe the state of being rather than the action.

FAQs

How to use "make merry" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe people enjoying themselves during a celebration. For example: "The villagers gathered in the square to <a href="/s/celebrate" target="_blank" rel="alternative">celebrate and make merry until dawn."

What can I say instead of "make merry"?

Depending on the tone you want, you could use alternatives like "<a href="/s/revel" target="_blank" rel="alternative">revel", "<a href="/s/have+a+good+time" target="_blank" rel="alternative">have a good time", or "<a href="/s/party" target="_blank" rel="alternative">party".

Is "make merry" an old-fashioned phrase?

While it has a long literary history and can feel traditional, it remains a correct and common phrase in modern journalism to describe festive events, as seen in publications like The New Yorker and The Guardian.

What is the difference between "make merry" and "rejoice"?

While both describe happiness, "make merry" focuses on social, outward celebration and fun, whereas "<a href="/s/rejoice" target="_blank" rel="alternative">rejoice" often refers to a more internal or spiritual feeling of great joy.