celebrate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb behave as expected during of holidays or rites
    observe; keep.
    • Keep the commandments
    • celebrate Christmas
    • Observe Yom Kippur
  2. verb have a celebration
    fete.
    • They were feting the patriarch of the family
    • After the exam, the students were celebrating
  3. verb assign great social importance to
    lionize; lionise.
    • The film director was celebrated all over Hollywood
    • The tenor was lionized in Vienna

WordNet

Cel"e*brate transitive verb
Etymology
L. celebratus, p. p. of celebrare to frequent, to celebrate, fr. celeber famous.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Celebrated; present participle & verbal noun Celebrating
Definitions
  1. To extol or honor in a solemn manner; as, to celebrate the name of the Most High.
  2. To honor by solemn rites, by ceremonies of joy and respect, or by refraining from ordinary business; to observe duly; to keep; as, to celebrate a birthday.
    Fron even unto shall ye celebrate your Sabbath. Lev. xxiii. 32.
  3. To perforn or participate in, as a sacrament or solemn rite; to solemnize; to perform with appropriate rites; as, to celebrate a marriage. Syn. -- To commemorate; distinguish; honor. -- To Celebrate, Commemorate. We commemorate events which we desire to keep in remembrance, when we recall them by some special observace; as, to commemorate the death of our Savior. We celebrate by demonstrations of joy or solemnity or by appropriate ceremonies; as, to celebrate the birthday of our Independence.
    We are called upon to commemorate a revolution as surprising in its manner as happy in its consequences. Atterbury.
    Earth, water, air, and fire, with feeling glee, Exult to celebrate thy festival. Thomson.

Webster 1913