English Reference
noun · verb

wedding

n. · v.
US /ˈwɛdɪŋ/ UK /wˈɛdɪŋ/ wed·ding UK spelling wedding's, wedding's

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    n.the event or ceremony where two people get married.

    n.a marriage ceremony and the associated celebrations.

    Simple

    They invited over a hundred guests to their wedding in the countryside.

    In context

    The wedding was a lavish affair held in a restored cathedral, followed by a reception that lasted well into the early hours of the morning.

    Pitfall
    I am going to a marriage on Saturday. I am going to a wedding on Saturday.

    Use 'wedding' for the ceremony and party; 'marriage' refers to the long-term relationship between the people.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Literary

    n.the joining of two or more different things.

    n.the act of joining or blending two or more disparate elements into a single unit.

    Simple

    The building is a perfect wedding of modern and traditional styles.

    In context

    The chef's signature dish represents a masterful wedding of traditional French techniques and bold Southeast Asian flavours.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency HumorousInformal

    v.to take part in a wedding, often used when you are having fun.

    v.to participate in or attend a wedding ceremony; often used with a lighthearted or playful tone.

    Simple

    We spent the whole weekend wedding and dancing with our friends.

    In context

    After a long summer of wedding and feasting across the country, the couple was finally ready for a quiet honeymoon.


Etymology 1

From Middle English wedding, weddynge, from Old English weddung (“betrothal, espousal”), equivalent to wed + -ing. Cognate with Middle Dutch weddinghe.

Etymology 2

A conversion of wedding (noun) to a verb.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old English weddung
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Very common
Updated