celebration

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A party or special event held to mark an important occasion.

   Grammar: Can be used with 'a' or in the plural: a celebration, many celebrations.

   Patterns

   • a celebration of something
   • hold a celebration
   • birthday celebration

   The wedding celebration lasted until midnight.

   They organized a celebration for their parents' 50th anniversary.

   The city held a celebration for the returning athletes.

2. 2noununcountable

   The act of marking a special occasion with enjoyment.

   Grammar: No plural; often used after 'in': a time of celebration.

   Patterns

   • in celebration
   • a time of celebration
   • celebration of something

   There was a mood of celebration in the air.

   The festival is a time of celebration for the whole community.

Word forms

Common combinations

in celebration of something

They lit fireworks in celebration of the new year.

hold a celebration

The school held a celebration for its 100th anniversary.

birthday celebration

Her birthday celebration was a quiet dinner at home.

a cause for celebration

The good exam results were a cause for celebration.

Synonyms and how they differ

party

A more informal word for a social event with food, music, and fun.

festivity

Often used in the plural for lively, festive activities.

ceremony

A formal, often serious event with a set order of actions.

Opposites

Word family

celebrate verb

To mark an occasion with enjoyment.

celebratory adjective

Describing something done to celebrate.

celebrated adjective

Famous and praised.

Commonly confused: celebration or celebration?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “celebration”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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