Ceremony Formal Extra Examples Noun ˈserəməni ˈserəməʊni People

• more than 1 000 people attended the ceremony.
• an awards/opening ceremony
• a wedding/marriage/graduation ceremony
• a religious/civil ceremony

ceremony

1. a public or religious occasion that includes a series of formal or traditional actions
• More than 1 000 people attended the ceremony.
• an awards/opening ceremony
• a wedding/marriage/graduation ceremony
• a religious/civil ceremony
• The priest had travelled from Australia to perform the ceremony.
• She was last seen in public at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games
• Who officiated at the ceremony?
• They were married in a simple ceremony.
• The villagers held a memorial ceremony for those who lost their lives in the war.
• There will be a special ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the battle.

Extra Examples

• Many dignitaries were present at the ceremony.
• The marriage ceremony was performed by the bishop.
• 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
2. formal behaviour; traditional actions and words used on particular formal occasions
• The royal guests were welcomed with pomp and ceremony.

Extra Examples

• She was buried with great ceremony in the Abbey.
• With due ceremony, he took the oath to become president.
• the pomp and ceremony of a royal wedding
3. to behave formally
• Please don't stand on ceremony (= Please be natural and relaxed) with me.
• I won't stand on ceremony.
4. in a very rough or informal way
• He found himself pushed without ceremony out of the house and the door slammed in his face.

Extra Examples

• It was done quickly and without ceremony.
• Without ceremony, the woman slammed the door shut in my face.

Word Origin

• late Middle English: from Old French ceremonie or Latin caerimonia ‘religious worship’, (plural) ‘ritual observances’.