# marrying

/ˈmɛɹiɪŋ/ (US) · /mˈæɹɪɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/marrying
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. getting married

verb · CEFR A2

the act of becoming a husband or wife to someone.

For teachers: the present participle of 'marry', describing the process of entering into a legal or religious union.

- They are marrying in a small ceremony by the sea next month.
- Marrying into such a prominent family brought both social advantages and a significant loss of personal privacy.

Usage: The verb is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.

### 2. combining things

verb · CEFR B2

joining two different things or ideas together so they work well.

For teachers: the figurative act of combining or blending two distinct elements into a harmonious whole.

- The chef is famous for marrying traditional recipes with modern techniques.
- The architect succeeded in marrying the industrial aesthetic of the original warehouse with the comfort required for a modern residential space.

### 3. a wedding ceremony

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary · Archaic

a wedding or the event where two people get married.

For teachers: a gerundial noun referring to the event or ceremony of a marriage.

- There was much singing and dancing at the marrying of the prince.
- The old chronicles provide a detailed account of the marrying of the two royal houses, which finally brought peace to the region.

## Examples

- They are marrying in a small church next Saturday.
- The chef is famous for marrying traditional French techniques with bold flavors from Southeast Asian street food.
- By marrying rigorous empirical data with a deeply humanistic narrative, the author manages to make a complex sociological study accessible to a mainstream audience.

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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.