# celebration

/ˌsɛɫəˈbɹeɪʃən/ (US) · /sˌɛləbɹˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/celebration
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a party or social event

noun · CEFR B1

a social event or party where people have fun to mark a special occasion.

For teachers: a social gathering or activity designed to mark a particular occasion or achievement. Countable in this sense.

- The whole family gathered for a big celebration after my brother graduated from university.
- The city organized a massive celebration in the central square to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of its founding.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'hold', 'throw', or 'organize'.

### 2. the act of honoring something

noun · CEFR B2

the act of showing that a day or an event is important.

For teachers: the act of observing or honoring a day, event, or person with ceremonies or festivities. Often uncountable when referring to the general practice.

- The celebration of New Year's Eve is a tradition in many different cultures.
- The public celebration of the victory continued for several days, with parades and speeches held across the country.

### 3. religious or formal rite

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal or religious ceremony, such as a wedding or a special church service.

For teachers: the formal performance of a solemn rite or religious ceremony. Often used in the context of the Eucharist or other sacraments.

- The priest led the celebration of the morning service for the local community.
- The cathedral was filled to capacity for the solemn celebration of the Easter liturgy.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'the celebration of the Mass'.

Teaching tip: This sense is much more formal and specific than the 'party' meaning; students should use it only in religious or highly traditional contexts.

## Examples

- We are planning a big celebration for her graduation.
- The city held a massive celebration in the streets after the national team won the championship.
- While the wedding was a private affair, the subsequent public celebration involved the entire village and lasted for three days.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.