From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcelebratecel‧e‧brate /ˈseləbreɪt/ ●●● W3 verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]CELEBRATE to show that an event or occasion is important by doing something special or enjoyable → celebration It’s Dad’s birthday and we’re going out for a meal to celebrate. My folks are celebrating their 50th anniversary. We hope to give fans something to celebrate this season.celebrate Christmas/Thanksgiving etc How do you usually celebrate New Year?2 [transitive] formalPRAISE to praise someone or something poems that celebrate the joys of love3 [transitive]RRC to perform a religious ceremony, especially the Christian Mass→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
celebrate• Congratulations on your promotion - we must go out and celebrate!• When Peggy turned 40, she invited 40 friends to help her celebrate.• He crossed the road well ahead of the militiamen and rode into the encampment where the wedding was still being celebrated.• And then they celebrated, all as one.• I was past putting the tent up, celebrating and wondering why my arms did not drop off.• Harry celebrated his thirtieth birthday with a meal in a fancy restaurant.• We're celebrating Katie's birthday on Friday.• This will be his first year celebrating Oktoberfest in the establishment he's owned for the last three years.• What do you want to do to celebrate our anniversary this year?• We will be back next year to celebrate our fourth pilgrimage.• He was to celebrate the inauguration in Florida speaking up for the black voters who feel disenfranchised.• His poems celebrate the joys of love.• It is a day to celebrate the rich variety of people within our parish rather than create unnecessary divisions.• The graduation ceremony allows students to celebrate their achievements with family and friends.celebrate Christmas/Thanksgiving etc• Henry took the homage of the barons and knights of La Marche and then returned to Angers to celebrate Christmas.• The staff and patients celebrated Christmas again on December 23 with refreshments and an exchange of gifts.• We should be celebrating Thanksgiving and Fourth of July!• Gazza, 25, was celebrating Christmas at his family home in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, at the time.• We in the United States Congress are going to celebrate Christmas by trashing poor people.• She supposed she was feeling a bit down in the dumps, apprehensive too about celebrating Christmas Day at the Danbys.• She said that getting drunk was not the right way to celebrate Christmas Eve.• The Victorians knew how to celebrate Christmas in style.Origin celebrate (1500-1600) Latin past participle of celebrare “to visit often, celebrate”, from celeber “often visited, famous” 