# married

/ˈmɛɹid/ (US) · /mˈæɹɪd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. having a spouse

adjective · CEFR A1

having a husband or a wife.

For teachers: joined in marriage; having a spouse. This is a non-gradable adjective.

- They have been married for ten years and have two children.
- Although they have been married for several decades, they still maintain the habit of taking a long walk together every evening.

Usage: Usually follows the verb 'to be' or 'to get'.

### 3. deeply committed

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

being very dedicated or attached to something, like a job or a hobby.

For teachers: figuratively committed or devoted to a particular activity, idea, or career to the exclusion of other interests.

- He is married to his work and rarely takes a day off.
- The professor was so married to his research that he often forgot to eat or sleep during the final weeks of the project.

Teaching tip: This is a metaphorical use; it implies the person treats their work or hobby with the same level of commitment as a spouse.

### 4. people who are wed

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

people who are in a marriage.

For teachers: a person who is married, typically used in the plural to refer to couples.

- The resort offers special discounts for the newly married.
- The tax laws distinguish between the single and the married, providing different brackets for joint filings.

## Examples

- They have been married for ten years.
- She is married to a famous chef who owns several restaurants in the city.
- The legal rights afforded to married couples often differ significantly from those available to individuals in long-term cohabiting relationships without formal certification.

---

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.