- 1 [countable] a public or religious occasion that includes a series of formal or traditional actions an awards/opening ceremony a wedding/marriage ceremony Wordfinderweddingbest man, bride, ceremony, engaged, honeymoon, marriage, propose, reception, stag night, wedding CollocationsMarriage and divorceRomance fall/be (madly/deeply/hopelessly) in love (with somebody) be/believe in/fall in love at first sight be/find true love/the love of your life suffer (from) (the pains/pangs of) unrequited love have/feel/show/express great/deep/genuine affection for somebody/something meet/marry your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend have/go on a (blind) date be going out with/(especially North American English) dating a guy/girl/boy/man/woman move in with/live with your boyfriend/girlfriend/partnerWeddings get/be engaged/married/divorced arrange/plan a wedding have a big wedding/a honeymoon/a happy marriage have/enter into an arranged marriage call off/cancel/postpone your wedding invite somebody to/go to/attend a wedding/a wedding ceremony/a wedding reception conduct/perform a wedding ceremony exchange rings/wedding vows/marriage vows congratulate/toast/raise a glass to the happy couple be/go on honeymoon (with your wife/husband) celebrate your first (wedding) anniversarySeparation and divorce be unfaithful to/(informal) cheat on your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend have an affair (with somebody) break off/end an engagement/a relationship break up with/split up with/ (informal) dump your boyfriend/girlfriend separate from/be separated from/leave/divorce your husband/wife annul/dissolve a marriage apply for/ask for/go through/get a divorce get/gain/be awarded/have/lose custody of the children pay alimony/child support (to your ex-wife/husband) Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebrief, short, quiet, … verb + ceremonyconduct, officiate, officiate at, … ceremony + verbtake place, commemorate something, honour/honor somebody/something, … prepositionat a/the ceremony, during a/the ceremony, in a/the ceremony, … See full entry See related entries: Marriage, Religious ceremonies
- 2[uncountable] formal behaviour; traditional actions and words used on particular formal occasions The royal guests were welcomed with pomp and ceremony. Oxford Collocations Dictionary verb + ceremonystand on prepositionwithout ceremony phrasespomp and ceremony, with great ceremony See full entry Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French ceremonie or Latin caerimonia ‘religious worship’, (plural) ‘ritual observances’.Extra examples I won’t stand on ceremony. It was done quickly and without ceremony. Many dignitaries were present at the ceremony. She was buried with great ceremony in the Abbey. The marriage ceremony was performed by the bishop. They were married in a simple ceremony. With due ceremony, he took the oath to become president. Without ceremony, the woman slammed the door shut in my face. a same-sex commitment ceremony a special ceremony to mark the end of the war an official ceremony to welcome the new director the Japanese tea ceremony the guest of honour at the ceremony the opening ceremony of the Olympic games the pomp and ceremony of a royal wedding an awards ceremonyIdioms
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BrE BrE//ˈserəməni//; NAmE NAmE//ˈserəmoʊni//
(pl. ceremonies) Marriage, Religious ceremoniesto behave formally Please don't stand on ceremony (= Please be natural and relaxed) with me.
in a very rough or informal way He found himself pushed without ceremony out of the house and the door slammed in his face.
Check pronunciation: ceremony
