Word
celebration
Phoneticscel·e·bra·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌsɛɫəˈbɹeɪʃən/
UK/sˌɛləbɹˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01a party or social event
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a social event or party where people have fun to mark a special occasion.
n. 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'.
02the act of honoring something
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of showing that a day or an event is important.
n. 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.”
Synonyms
03religious or formal rite
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Religion Formal
n. a formal or religious ceremony, such as a wedding or a special church service.
n. 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.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “celebration” in context.
Verb
01. cancel celebration
“The street celebration was cancelled due to the heavy rain.”
verb + noun
02. celebration continue
“The celebration continued long into the night.”
noun + verb
03. celebration mark
“The celebration marks the end of the academic year for the students.”
noun + verb
04. hold celebration
“They plan to hold a celebration in the park after the ceremony.”
verb + noun
05. join celebration
“Thousands of people gathered in the square to join the celebration.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. annual celebration
“The annual celebration of the town's founding takes place every July.”
adj + noun
07. fitting celebration
“The concert was a fitting celebration of the composer's long career.”
adj + noun
08. huge celebration
“The city organized a huge celebration to welcome the winning team home.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. cause for celebration
“The successful surgery was certainly a cause for celebration.”
noun + prep + noun
10. be cause for celebration
“The decline in unemployment figures is cause for celebration.”
11. call for a celebration
“Passing your driving test definitely calls for a celebration!”
12. in celebration of
“A special dinner was held in celebration of their 50th anniversary.”
Etymology
From Old French celebration, from Latin celebratio. Equivalent to celebrate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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