celebratory

adjective

cel·​e·​bra·​to·​ry ˈse-lə-brə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce celebratory (audio)
ˌse-lə-ˈbrā-tə-rē
: of, relating to, expressing, or characterized by celebration
The tone of the article was celebratory.
Both band and audience seemed in celebratory moods, with massive cheers erupting when the lights went out …Emily Burnham
: used or intended for use in celebrating
We went for a celebratory drink after the game.
And you can even find meals that don't have any turkey at all; for many Westerners, Thanksgiving dinner is more about celebratory feasting than ironclad tradition, so chefs update their menus with everything from lobster with tomato-basil polenta to butternut squash lasagna.Colleen Dunn Bates
Also beginning in earnest is the crop of celebratory activities to mark the 250th anniversary of the quintessential college town.James Heflin

Examples of celebratory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With choreographed dances, celebratory antics, flaming bats (yes, literal flaming bats), and a firm commitment to entertaining the crowd first and worrying about the score later, the Bananas have become a cultural phenomenon. Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025 According to her, Valdes and the group arrived in Wynwood an hour before the shooting for a celebratory dinner and drinks. Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 24 July 2025 The video is inspired by NYC ’90s hip hop, which like ska, has a long tradition of unifying people & using celebratory music to convey subversive political themes. Walden Green, Pitchfork, 23 July 2025 The celebratory post came after Heather Rae shared a heartfelt tribute to Haack on her birthday. Latoya Gayle, People.com, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for celebratory

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of celebratory was in 1809

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Cite this Entry

“Celebratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/celebratory. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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