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ceremony

[ser-uh-moh-nee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

ceremonies

the formal activities conducted on some solemn or important public or state occasion.
the coronation ceremony.
a formal religious or sacred observance; a solemn rite.
a marriage ceremony.
formal observances or gestures collectively; ceremonial observances.
The breathless messenger had no time for ceremony.
any formal act or observance, especially a meaningless one.
His low bow was mere ceremony.
a gesture or act of politeness or civility.
the ceremony of a handshake.
strict adherence to conventional forms; formality.
to leave a room without ceremony.

ceremony

/ ˈ��ɛ��ɪ��ə��ɪ /

noun

a formal act or ritual, often set by custom or tradition, performed in observation of an event or anniversary
a ceremony commemorating Shakespeare's birth
a religious rite or series of rites
a courteous gesture or act
the ceremony of toasting the Queen
ceremonial observances or gestures collectively
the ceremony of a monarchy
to insist on or act with excessive formality
in a casual or informal manner

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Other Word Forms

preceremony noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ceremony¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ceremonie, from Medieval Latin ��ŧ��ō�Ծ��, from Latin ��ō�Ծ�� “sacred rite”; replacing Middle English cerymonye, from Middle French cerimonie, from Latin, as above

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ceremony¹

C14: from Medieval Latin ��ŧ��ō�Ծ��, from Latin ��ō�Ծ�� what is sacred, a religious rite

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

stand on ceremony, to behave in a formal or ceremonious manner.

see stand on (ceremony).

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Synonym Study

Ceremony, rite, ritual refer to set observances and acts traditional in religious services or on public occasions. Ceremony applies to more or less formal dignified acts on religious or public occasions: a marriage ceremony; an inaugural ceremony. A rite is an established, prescribed, or customary form of religious or other solemn practice: the rite of baptism. Ritual refers to the form of conducting worship or to a code of ceremonies in general: Masonic rituals.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He even suggested they could watch the ceremony from home on a livestream the school had arranged.

From

"It was absolutely amazing," he said of the ceremony.

From

Recipients can select their investiture's date and location but not which member of the Royal Family will preside over the ceremony.

From

The Trooping the Colour ceremony in London marks the King's birthday, with 1,350 troops involved in the annual parade.

From

The vocalist, senior Maria Llamas, who also served as ceremony co-host, spoke in Spanish while her counterpart spoke in English.

From

Related Words

commemoration��
function��
observance��
parade��
rite��
service��
show��

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

ceremonious Cerenkov

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