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celebration

celebration

501 1.0
A happy event such as a party that marks a special occasion or achievement
  • noun
  • /ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən/
: celebración
  • After winning the championship, the team held a joyous celebration at their home stadium.
  • day celebrations
  • a birthday celebration
  • an anniversary celebration

We've got a whole month of celebrations to come, so let's go.

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Examples

  • This is really an homage and a celebration of my love for David.

  • I think the occasion calls for a celebration.

  • Yeah, We had a good celebration of life on Saturday.

  • You know, it's a celebration, move your body, dance, be free.

  • I think a little celebration drink with your father is in order.

  • This should feel like a global celebration of the spiritual life.

  • All are invited to join in the celebration in the Old yard.

  • This calls for a celebration.

  • July 4th means a week of celebration in central Michigan.

  • For them, the fiesta is a celebration of the identity and corporateness of their city.

    Academic text (1991)

Synonyms

party
vscelebration
∞ 1.0

An event where people meet to celebrate, eat, and have fun

is the general joyful event used to mark special occasions
festival
vscelebration
315 1.0

A time when people gather to celebrate with food and fun

is the shorter term for any single joyful event
festivity
vscelebration
65 3.5

A happy public celebration with music and decorations

is the broader name for any joyful event or activity
feast
vscelebration
16 1.7

Something that gives great pleasure to the senses, like a show or meal

is the joyful event in general, not focused mainly on food
jamboree
vscelebration
15 5.7

A large lively party with music and games

covers any size joyful event, not only large gatherings
victory lap
vscelebration
14 4.4

A public display people make to celebrate a big win or success

is the general event rather than the short public display
observance
vscelebration
  • Formal
11 4.7

A formal event to mark or honor a special day

is usually more festive and joyful rather than strictly formal
revelry
vscelebration
9 6.1

Lively noisy party with drinking and dancing

is the general joyful event, not specifically noisy or wild
victory celebration
vscelebration
6 3.0

An event where people celebrate a win, for example after a game or battle

is a general joyful event that can mark many occasions
revel
vscelebration
6 6.3

A loud happy party with dancing and drinking

is broader and does not require loud or wild behaviour
jollification
vscelebration
  • Archaic
1 8.8

A lively celebration with people having fun

is the general joyful event without stressing cheerfulness level
concelebration
vscelebration
1 7.8

A celebration that people from different groups do together

is any joyful event but does not stress joint performance

Antonyms

155 1.6

An event, action, or situation that makes someone feel let down

96 3.9

A period after someone dies when people show deep sadness

Compounds

An event where people celebrate a win, for example after a game or battle

An event that honors love and a romantic relationship, like a wedding

1 8.4

A gathering on April 20 where people celebrate and often use cannabis

A party that brings together Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa traditions

A person who is full of energy and makes a party more fun

A public event that marks a country's freedom with parades and speeches

9.9

A party with a Gothic theme that has dark decorations and music

How Festive

gala
83 3.7
festival
324 1.0
celebration
501 1.0
party
∞ 1.0
gathering
163 1.0
get-together
  • Informal
42 1.9

Surface Forms

celebration singular
celebrations plural

Morphology

celebration = celebrate (transparent) = celebrate + ion

A straightforward nominalization of 'celebrate' with '-ion' yielding the common meaning 'a joyful event or party'; predictable for learners who know the verb.

Etymology

Celebration comes from the Latin verb celebrare, meaning 'to honor' or 'to mark with a public gathering', and you can see the same root in celebrate. So a celebration is a joyful event or party to mark a special occasion.