marriedmar‧ried /ˈmærid/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective 
Are you married or single? They’ve been married for eight years. Married men earn 70 percent more than single men.married to Nicole is married to my brother. We’re getting married (=marrying) next month.married couple/man/woman a happily married man When she first came to London, she was newly married and out of work. So, how do you like married life?2be married to something to give most of your time and attention to a job or activity: I was married to my job.GRAMMAR: Prepositions with married• You are married to someone: · He is married to an American.· Last year I got married to Tom. ✗Don’t say: He is married with an American. | Last year I got married with Tom.• You use married with when talking about how many children someone has: · Richard is now happily married with two young children.COLLOCATIONSverbsbe married· She’s married now, and living in London.get married (=to have a wedding)· Did you know that they are going to get married?stay married· I cannot stay married to a man I do not love.be married with children (=to be married and have children)· Kevin is married with four children.adverbshappily married (=in a happy relationship with your husband or wife)· I have been happily married for nine years.unhappily married (=not in a happy relationship with your husband or wife)· They were behaving like an unhappily married old couple.newly/recently married (=married not long ago)· The newly married couple arrived at their hotel.nounsa married man/woman· By 1957 a third of married women were working.a married couple· Most of their friends are married couples.married life· Throughout her married life, her husband’s interests had come first.somebody’s married name (=a woman’s last name, when she has changed it to her husband’s name)· She gave them Pat’s married name and address.married quarters (=where soldiers live with their wives)· Can a soldier’s wife continue to live in married quarters if her husband leaves her?THESAURUSmarried having a husband or wife: · How long have you been married?· a married couplesingle not married: · Chris is 45 and still single.· single mothersengaged having formally agreed to marry someone in the future: · Jane and Pete have just got engaged.· engaged coupleslive together to share a home and have a sexual relationship, but not be married: · More and more couples are choosing to live together rather than get married.separated no longer living with your husband or wife because of problems in your marriage: · I think Joan and Brian are separated now.divorced no longer married because you have legally ended your marriage: · My parents got divorced when I was 10.· divorced menwidowed no longer married because your husband or wife has died: · He’s a widowed father of two.husband/wife etchusband/wife the man/woman you are married to: · My wife’s a teacher.partner the person you live with and have a sexual relationship with. Partner is often used when people are not married, or when you do not know if they are married. It is also used when talking about same-sex couples: · He lives with his partner Ruth and their eight-month-old son.fiancé/fiancée the man/woman you are engaged to: · He and fiancée Wendy Hodgson will marry in July.divorcee a woman who is divorced: · The prince announced his intention to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.widow/widower a woman or man whose husband or wife has died: · Imelda Marcos, the widow of the former presidentspouse formal your spouse is your husband or wife: · The rule applies to spouses and children of military personnel.estranged wife/husband formal someone’s estranged husband or wife is one who they do not live with anymore: · She is trying to get her sons back from her estranged husband.someone who is not marriedbachelor a man who has never been married: · He’s a confirmed bachelor (=a man who has decided he will never marry).spinster old-fashioned a woman who has never been married and is no longer young: · The house was owned by an elderly spinster.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- After thirty-two years of married life Barbara had no illusions left.
- Geraldine was married to the richest man in France and still pretended she couldn't afford a new outfit.
- Is Robertson your married name?
- More and more married women were returning to the workplace.
- Richard is happily married with two young children.
- We've been married for 25 years.
- Aged 53, married, no children.
- And Liz is married to my brother, after all.
- But now she's all married and stuff.
- But the scale of these effects, especially for married men, is small.
- I went downstairs and they told me they had just got married.
- Nick personable, Eton educated, slightly big boyish looking is 30 and married with two very young children.
- There is no way Dona could have left her married life and children behind to sail the seas with pirate lover.
THESAURUS
having a husband or wife: · How long have you been married?· a married couple
not married: · Chris is 45 and still single.· single mothers
having formally agreed to marry someone in the future: · Jane and Pete have just got engaged.· engaged couples
to share a home and have a sexual relationship, but not be married: · More and more couples are choosing to live together rather than get married.
no longer living with your husband or wife because of problems in your marriage: · I think Joan and Brian are separated now.
no longer married because you have legally ended your marriage: · My parents got divorced when I was 10.· divorced men
no longer married because your husband or wife has died: · He’s a widowed father of two.
husband/wife etc the man/woman you are married to: · My wife’s a teacher.
the person you live with and have a sexual relationship with. Partner is often used when people are not married, or when you do not know if they are married. It is also used when talking about same-sex couples: · He lives with his partner Ruth and their eight-month-old son.
the man/woman you are engaged to: · He and fiancée Wendy Hodgson will marry in July.
a woman who is divorced: · The prince announced his intention to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.
a woman or man whose husband or wife has died: · Imelda Marcos, the widow of the former president
formal your spouse is your husband or wife: · The rule applies to spouses and children of military personnel.
formal someone’s estranged husband or wife is one who they do not live with anymore: · She is trying to get her sons back from her estranged husband.
someone who is not married a man who has never been married: · He’s a confirmed bachelor (=a man who has decided he will never marry).
old-fashioned a woman who has never been married and is no longer young: · The house was owned by an elderly spinster.
Longman Language Activatorrelating to people who are married: married name (=the name a woman uses after she is married, if she has changed her name to her husband's name) · Is Robertson your married name?married life (=your life as a married person) · After thirty-two years of married life Barbara had no illusions left.
: marital problems/violence/difficulties/breakdown (=problems etc between people who are married) · The police have the power to stop people holding their marital disputes in public.marital bliss (=an extremely happy marriage) · It wasn't what you would call marital bliss, but it was a good, solid marriage.· Many wives do not report acts of marital violence to the police.marital status formal (=whether or not someone is married - used on official forms) · Age, sex and marital status all affect earnings and income.
formal belonging to or concerning a man and a woman who are married - used in legal or official contexts: the matrimonial home: · In the divorce proceedings, Marianne agreed to give up all rights to the matrimonial home.a matrimonial conflict/dispute: · In any matrimonial conflict, it is always the children who suffer most.
the people who are married two people who are married to each other, or who are having a romantic relationship: · An elderly couple live next door.· They're a nice couple, aren't they?married couple: · Shirley and Bob are a young married couple with two small children.
a man and woman who have recently married: · Everyone left at about midnight, leaving the newlyweds alone at last.· The hotel seemed to be full of newlyweds.
formal a married couple: as man and wife: · Terry and Meena aren't married but they live together as man and wife.pronounce somebody man and wife (=say that two people are officially married): · Mom burst into tears as the minister pronounced us man and wife.
· Are you married or single?· We've been married for 25 years.married to · Geraldine was married to the richest man in France and still pretended she couldn't afford a new outfit.happily married · Richard is happily married with two young children.
the woman that a man is married to: · My wife's career is very important to her.· Have you met the Ambassador's wife?first/second etc wife: · He remarried after his first wife died of cancer.
the man that a woman is married to: · I don't like Francesca's husband very much.· How many husbands would stay at home and take care of the children while their wife goes out to work?first/second etc husband: · Gary's her second husband.
formal the man or woman that someone is married to - use this in legal or official contexts: · You may choose to pay income tax jointly or separately from your spouse.
the person that someone lives with in a romantic relationship - use this whether they are married or not: · Have you met my partner, Ray?· The office party is on Friday, but partners aren't invited.
a relationship in which people are married the relationship between two people who are married: · She already has two children from a previous marriage.· Do you think marriage is still important to young people?· Over a third of all marriages now end in divorce.· What's the secret of a successful marriage?first/second etc marriage: · After a disastrous first marriage to a young soldier, Kylie didn't feel like rushing into another relationship.
formal the state of being married: · a couple bound in the state of holy matrimony
to be someone's husband or wife: · My uncle and his wife were married for 65 years.· Is she married?
to get married to officially become husband and wife: · Jenny and Tom were very young when they got married.· My daughter's getting married in July.get married to: · Is he getting married to Sophie at last?
to get married to someone: · Will you marry me?· The only reason Carla married Henry was because she was pregnant.· Do you think your sister will ever marry?marry young: · I married young - it was a mistake.
to marry another person after a previous marriage has finished, or marry the same person again: · It was a pity our father never remarried after our mother's death.· Elizabeth Taylor remarried Richard Burton after they had divorced years earlier.
to secretly leave your parents' home in order to get married, especially without your parents' approval or permission: · If my father won't agree to the marriage, we'll just have to elope.elope with: · Mary fell in love with Shelley and eloped with him to the Continent in 1814.
if you marry into a family or a social class, you marry someone who belongs to it, and become part of it yourself: · Stefan would like to marry into a family just like his own.· the story of a poor Irish girl who marries into New York societymarry into money (=marry someone who is rich or whose family is rich): · The only way Steven will ever be successful is if he marries into money.
not married · He told her he wasn't married, but he was lying.· Jeff and Paula have two children, but they're not actually married.
someone who is single is not married or is not in a permanent romantic relationship with anyone: · Please fill in the section on the form that asks if you're single, married or divorced.· At my age it's difficult to meet single women.single parent: · Many of the children at the school come from single parent families.single mother: · I'm a single mother, so I don't have much money.
an unmarried person is someone who has never been married: · Mrs Travis has three unmarried sons.unmarried mother: · Unmarried mothers can usually receive help from the State or Federal governments.
a man who has never been married: · Ben was the only bachelor among all the married couples and felt quite out of place.somebody's bachelor days: · Now that Derek's bachelor days were over he'd have to start behaving in a more responsible manner.bachelor flat: · His home had the look of a bachelor flat - clean but empty.
a word meaning a woman who has never married, especially a woman who is no longer young, which some people now think is offensive: · Both my father's sisters were spinsters.spinster aunt/sister/lady etc: · Sally lives with her mother and her spinster aunt.
rich, attractive, and not married, and therefore very desirable as a husband or wife: · His father had suggested several eligible middle class girls to him.eligible bachelor: · The world saw Jack as a rich eligible bachelor, but really he was very shy.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs She is engaged to be married. I’m a happily married man. Most of the officers live in married quarters (=houses where soldiers live with their wives).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
· She’s married now, and living in London.
(=to have a wedding)· Did you know that they are going to get married?
· I cannot stay married to a man I do not love.
(=to be married and have children)· Kevin is married with four children.
adverbs (=in a happy relationship with your husband or wife)· I have been happily married for nine years.
(=not in a happy relationship with your husband or wife)· They were behaving like an unhappily married old couple.
(=married not long ago)· The newly married couple arrived at their hotel.
nouns· By 1957 a third of married women were working.
· Most of their friends are married couples.
· Throughout her married life, her husband’s interests had come first.
(=a woman’s last name, when she has changed it to her husband’s name)· She gave them Pat’s married name and address.
(=where soldiers live with their wives)· Can a soldier’s wife continue to live in married quarters if her husband leaves her?
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· I’d like to get married in a church.
· Under the new rules, a married couple will now receive £20 a week extra.
(=having married not long ago)· Many newly married couples cannot afford to buy their own homes.
She is engaged to be married. I’m a happily married man. Most of the officers live in married quarters (=houses where soldiers live with their wives).· Daisy already married - but a runaway marriage, a family scandal.· You see, he was already married, with a child.· She fell in love with him but, on discovering he was already married, she retired to a nunnery.· Trouble is, of course, they're already married.· There's Jane Eyre where the wedding is interrupted by some one who says the groom is already married.· She was only 16; he was already married to the last schoolgirl he had eloped with, poor Harriet Westbrook.· The problem was finding such a man who wasn't already married.
· You asked me how I stayed happily married and I replied.· He has a daughter of 23 by his first marriage and is happily married to his second wife Jenny.· When they met she was happily married to her first husband Laurie Brown, a member of Manchester United's back-room staff.· Pagan and I are happily married, with babies as well as jobs.· She was a large lady, happily married with three kids, without a chemical trace of inhibition in her body.· He was a quiet, apparently happily married man with no enemies.· Once again, I was restless and unfulfilled, though I now had a successful business and was happily married.· He was a short, energetic man, modest in his tastes and happily married, though childless.
· The figures actually suggest that of the women compositors employed in 1910, at least 25 percent never married.· There were nevertheless many women who never married.· MacLauchlan never married, lodging in the Lambeth and Clapham areas of London when not engaged on archaeological work.· Amongst never married women the period increased only slightly from 18 months in 1979 to 19 months in 1987.· He never married, and died 4 August 1701.· Hannah never married and never had a close relationship, but she had her dreams.· Mary and Anna never married, however.· It's why he never married again, never courted female company.
· But no one there had ever heard of the Arektenje area of Jaffa where the newly married Damiani had bought his home.· It was hardly a situation conducive to producing a relaxed and committed rugby player, just newly married.· She might be only acting the part of a young lady newly married, but she did it superbly well.
· He is now married and lives in Kent.· Photographed when engaged, she is now married to Peter Bell from Kilmarnock.· He is now married and is the proud father of a three week old baby boy.· Richard now married Berengaria in a wedding long remembered for its splendour.· All the friends she had made at school were now married.· The parents of these children were now married.
NOUN· The proportion of out-of-wedlock births has increased so much mainly because the number of births to married couples has sharply declined.· Accommodation for married couples is scarce and expensive.· As a result, a single pensioner has lost £17 a week under the Government while a married couple have lost £28.· For instance, a married couple may want a bigger and better house, so they are motivated into purchasing one.· By 1988, married couples with children made up no more than 26 percent of all households in Britain.· This poster of 1906 lists opportunities for families, married couples, single people and boys.· Imagine a married couple who are estranged from one another, yet who both wistfully long for reconciliation.
· There is no way Dona could have left her married life and children behind to sail the seas with pirate lover.· She had been a virgin when she married, had stayed faithful all her married life.· Ironically, during that time, Charles and Diana enjoyed the happiest period of their married life.· As women increasingly spend some of their married lives in careers, it follows also that they have more economic power.· It was all so different from her own married life.· Meanwhile the man of course, is leading his married life and is hardly affected at all.· Our married life has truly begun, and every day it will get better.· Admittedly they were only nineteen, but surely, he reasoned, there must be more to married life than this?
· A married man with two children!· In May, conscription was extended to married men.· The General Household Survey in 1979 found that only 20 percent of economically active married men supported a dependent wife and children.· A married man living with his wife may also be able to claim part of the married couple's allowance.· Not only boys either, men too, married men, old enough to know better.· The married men did, after all, tend to get more consideration.· As a married man over 75 and on a modest income, you are allowed the first £6,875 free of tax.· Over the past 12 years, the take-home pay of a married man with two children has increased by more than 30 percent.
· At the beginning of the century, there were more single than married people.· No, it wasn't a conventional marriage but we gave each other what a lot of married people don't: freedom.· Meanwhile he looked with bewilderment at the married people he knew, particularly his parents.· What do married people tell each other?· Isn't that what old married people do, to avoid trouble?· The decision to include married people in this was both practically and theoretically crucial.
· This gave married women independent status as taxpayers, i.e. they could control their own tax affairs.· Older married women are less likely than men to receive a National Insurance retirement pension in their own right.· In those days married women didn't work, so for her it was the ideal solution.· In contrast, if a married woman were unfaithful to her husband she might have to die for Izzat to be restored.· In particular, there are complex rules which disadvantage married women.· She is a married woman of intelligence and maturity with twenty years' experience.· In this country, married women with no work outside the home are entitled to precisely nothing!
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- Alison had shown enough respectable horror on discovering that he was married to prove she was a nice girl.
- As your Grace knows, Alexander was married to your Grace's late lamented sister, Margaret.
- He believed he had never married because he was married to his calling.
- It was like they were married to the Democrats, husband and wife, and nobody argues, but nobody talks.
- It wasn't as if she were married to him.
- She is married to Dave Walden, former chief of staff to Mayor Lanier.
- She was married to Milton Hayes, an Oceanic Lines purser, in 1929.
WORD FAMILYnounmarriageremarriageadjectivemarried ≠ unmarriedmarriageableverbmarryremarry
1having a husband or a wife: Are you married or single? They’ve been married for eight years. Married men earn 70 percent more than single men.married to Nicole is married to my brother. We’re getting married (=marrying) next month.married couple/man/woman a happily married man When she first came to London, she was newly married and out of work. So, how do you like married life?2be married to something to give most of your time and attention to a job or activity: I was married to my job.GRAMMAR: Prepositions with married• You are married to someone: · He is married to an American.· Last year I got married to Tom. ✗Don’t say: He is married with an American. | Last year I got married with Tom.• You use married with when talking about how many children someone has: · Richard is now happily married with two young children.COLLOCATIONSverbsbe married· She’s married now, and living in London.get married (=to have a wedding)· Did you know that they are going to get married?stay married· I cannot stay married to a man I do not love.be married with children (=to be married and have children)· Kevin is married with four children.adverbshappily married (=in a happy relationship with your husband or wife)· I have been happily married for nine years.unhappily married (=not in a happy relationship with your husband or wife)· They were behaving like an unhappily married old couple.newly/recently married (=married not long ago)· The newly married couple arrived at their hotel.nounsa married man/woman· By 1957 a third of married women were working.a married couple· Most of their friends are married couples.married life· Throughout her married life, her husband’s interests had come first.somebody’s married name (=a woman’s last name, when she has changed it to her husband’s name)· She gave them Pat’s married name and address.married quarters (=where soldiers live with their wives)· Can a soldier’s wife continue to live in married quarters if her husband leaves her?THESAURUSmarried having a husband or wife: · How long have you been married?· a married couplesingle not married: · Chris is 45 and still single.· single mothersengaged having formally agreed to marry someone in the future: · Jane and Pete have just got engaged.· engaged coupleslive together to share a home and have a sexual relationship, but not be married: · More and more couples are choosing to live together rather than get married.separated no longer living with your husband or wife because of problems in your marriage: · I think Joan and Brian are separated now.divorced no longer married because you have legally ended your marriage: · My parents got divorced when I was 10.· divorced menwidowed no longer married because your husband or wife has died: · He’s a widowed father of two.husband/wife etchusband/wife the man/woman you are married to: · My wife’s a teacher.partner the person you live with and have a sexual relationship with. Partner is often used when people are not married, or when you do not know if they are married. It is also used when talking about same-sex couples: · He lives with his partner Ruth and their eight-month-old son.fiancé/fiancée the man/woman you are engaged to: · He and fiancée Wendy Hodgson will marry in July.divorcee a woman who is divorced: · The prince announced his intention to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.widow/widower a woman or man whose husband or wife has died: · Imelda Marcos, the widow of the former presidentspouse formal your spouse is your husband or wife: · The rule applies to spouses and children of military personnel.estranged wife/husband formal someone’s estranged husband or wife is one who they do not live with anymore: · She is trying to get her sons back from her estranged husband.someone who is not marriedbachelor a man who has never been married: · He’s a confirmed bachelor (=a man who has decided he will never marry).spinster old-fashioned a woman who has never been married and is no longer young: · The house was owned by an elderly spinster.