Celebrate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛl.ɪ.bɹeɪt/

Definitions

1. to mark a special occasion or achievement with enjoyable activities, festivities, or ceremonies
2. To acknowledge and honor a significant event or accomplishment through joyous gatherings, rituals, or festivities
3. To observe a notable event or achievement with joy through festivities, special gatherings, or ceremonial acts

Etymology: The Latin verb "celebrare" originally meant to crowd or throng a place. Its root "celeber" described something frequented or populous, so to celebrate a festival was first to fill the place where it happened with a great number of people. The sense of honoring an occasion came later, as crowds gathered for ceremonies and festivities. English took the word from Middle English "celebraten," which was borrowed from the Latin past participle "celebratus." It displaced two native Old English verbs, "fægnian" and "frēolsian," which meant to rejoice or to make merry. Those older words did not survive, so the Latin borrowing ended up covering the whole idea of marking an occasion with joy.

Synonyms: commemorate, observe, honor, mark, rejoice

Antonyms: mourn, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook