celebrate the new year — to observe or commemorate the beginning of a new calendar year with festivities, traditions, or special activities
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to observe or commemorate the beginning of a new calendar year with festivities, traditions, or special activities
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈselɪbreɪt ðə nu jɪr/
Example Sentences
- Every culture has unique ways to celebrate the new year, from eating grapes in Spain to jumping off chairs in Denmark.
- My grandmother still celebrates the new year by making enough food to feed a small army.
- Times Square attracts millions who want to celebrate the new year in the most crowded way possible.
celebrate the new year
NOUN[/ˈselɪbreɪt ðə nu jɪr/]
to observe or commemorate the beginning of a new calendar year with festivities, traditions, or special activities

Families gather on rooftops to celebrate the new year as fireworks bloom overhead.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The verb 'celebrate' derives from Latin 'celebratus', the past participle of 'celebrare', meaning 'to honour, praise, or make famous'. The word originally referred to formal ceremonies and festivities in ancient Rome, particularly religious festivals honoring the gods, and has evolved to encompass any joyful commemoration including modern New Year celebrations.
Breakdown
celebr- (from Latin 'celeber', meaning famous or renowned) + -ate (verb-forming suffix indicating to make or cause). The root conveys the sense of making something widely known or honoured through ceremonial gathering.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Every culture has unique ways to celebrate the new year, from eating grapes in Spain to jumping off chairs in Denmark.”
“My grandmother still celebrates the new year by making enough food to feed a small army.”
“Times Square attracts millions who want to celebrate the new year in the most crowded way possible.”
“We decided to celebrate the new year quietly at home after last year's party disaster.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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