Meaning & use
ribbon cutting or ribbon-cutting
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A ceremony where a special ribbon is cut to mark the official opening of a building, road, or event.
Grammar: Countable: a ribbon cutting, several ribbon cuttings.
Patterns
- at a ribbon cutting
- hold a ribbon cutting
The mayor attended the ribbon cutting for the new library.
They held a ribbon cutting to open the bridge to traffic.
The ribbon cutting will take place at ten o'clock in the morning.
adjectivebefore a noun
Relating to a ceremony that officially opens something by cutting a ribbon.
Grammar: Used only before a noun: a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a ribbon-cutting event.
Patterns
- ribbon-cutting ceremony
- ribbon-cutting event
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by local business leaders.
She gave a short speech at the ribbon-cutting event.
A ribbon-cutting photo appeared in the newspaper.
Word forms
| plural | ribbon cuttings |
|---|
Common combinations
- ribbon-cutting ceremony
- The ribbon-cutting ceremony started at noon.
- attend a ribbon cutting
- Many people attended the ribbon cutting for the new park.
- hold a ribbon cutting
- The store will hold a ribbon cutting next week.
- official ribbon cutting
- The official ribbon cutting was delayed by rain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- opening ceremony
- A broader term that can include speeches and performances; a ribbon cutting is often part of an opening ceremony.
Word family
- cut the ribbon phrase
- To perform the action at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Commonly confused: ribbon cutting or ribbon-cutting or ribbon?
ribbon cutting or ribbon-cutting vs ribbon
A ribbon is the strip of material; ribbon cutting is the ceremony.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'ribbon cutting' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A ribbon cutting is an opening ceremony. The other sentences confuse it with the physical ribbon used for tying or wrapping.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ribbon cutting or ribbon-cutting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.