...his grandmother's funeral, a private ceremony attended only by the family.
Today's award ceremony took place at the British Embassy in Tokyo.
2. uncountable noun [usu withN]
Ceremony consists of the special things that are said and done on very formal occasions.
The Republic was proclaimed in public with great ceremony.
...the pomp and ceremony of the Pope's visit.
3. uncountable noun [withoutN]
If you do something without ceremony, you do it quickly and in a casual way.
'Is Hilton here?' she asked without ceremony.
4. See also master of ceremonies
More Synonyms of ceremony
ceremony in British English
(ˈsɛrɪmənɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-nies
1.
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
2.
a religious rite or series of rites
3.
a courteous gesture or act
the ceremony of toasting the Queen
4.
ceremonial observances or gestures collectively
the ceremony of a monarchy
5. stand on ceremony
6. without ceremony
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin cēremōnia, from Latin caerimōnia what is sacred, a religious rite
ceremony in American English
(ˈsɛrəˌmoʊni; Chiefly British ˈsɛrəməni)
nounWord forms: pluralˈcereˌmonies
1.
a formal act or set of formal acts established by custom or authority as proper to a special occasion, such as a wedding, religious rite, etc.
2.
the service or function at which such acts are performed
3.
a conventionally courteous or polite act
4.
behavior that follows rigid etiquette or a prescribed form
5.
a.
formality or formalities
b.
empty or meaningless formality, or an act suggesting this
Idioms:
stand on ceremony
SYNONYMY NOTE: ceremony refers to a formal, usually solemn, act established as proper to some religious orstate occasion [the ceremony of launching a ship]; rite refers to the prescribed form for a religious practice [burial rites]; ritual refers to rites or ceremonies collectively, esp. to the rites of a particular religion[the ritual of voodooism]; formality suggests a conventional, often meaningless, act or custom, usually one associatedwith social activity [the formalities of polite conversation]
Word origin
ME cerimonie < L caerimonia, awe, reverent rite, ceremony; prob. < Etr
Examples of 'ceremony' in a sentence
ceremony
They actually go through a special ceremony in front of their friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
People party all night at award ceremonies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The pair further fuelled rumours by appearing arm in arm at an award ceremony in September.
The Sun (2016)
For years he's been at the same bars and the same awards ceremonies as them.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It began with West being unhappy with the way a vote had gone at a cultural awards ceremony.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Today's ceremony has special meaning.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When the awards ceremony rolls around next month she'll have the perfect gear to relax in while she watches it from the comfort of her sofa.
The Sun (2017)
This would be set alight and the bird served with much pomp and ceremony.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Their friends and family watch the ceremony via a webcam in the chapel.
The Sun (2008)
He is similarly unimpressed by big budgets for the opening ceremony.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Clergy routinely decline to perform some marriage ceremonies based on their religious beliefs.
Christianity Today (2000)
This was the area where funeral ceremonies took place.
Francis Pryor BRITAIN BC: Life In Britain and Ireland before the Romans (2003)
Their secretive rituals and mysterious ceremonies have gone largely unchanged for centuries.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is unclear when the ceremony took place.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They miss the public recognition of this in a religious ceremony.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Collecting my degree with that silly hat and gown at the ceremony was so special.
The Sun (2009)
All ministers should have a formal ceremony when they are appointed to impress upon them that duty.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Four billion people are expected to tune in to the opening ceremony alone.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The church had always used ritual and ceremony to approach the divine.
Adam Nicolson GOD'S SECRETARIES: The Making of the King James Bible (2003)
The awards ceremony is organised and presented by members of staff.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But new recruits are always forced to undergo tough initiation ceremonies as a rite of passage before joining.
The Sun (2006)
There was no pomp or ceremony from two actors who have probably earned the right to a little grandeur.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But my idea of a great wedding is a nice ceremony with family and friends and a good party afterwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There was a further funeral ceremony in Bologna.
Gavin Weightman SIGNOR MARCONI'S MAGIC BOX: The invention that sparked the radio revolution (2003)
In other languages
ceremony
British English: ceremony /ˈsɛrɪmənɪ/ NOUN
A ceremony is a formal event such as a wedding or a coronation.
His grandmother's funeral was a private ceremony attended only by the family.
American English: ceremony
Arabic: مَرَاسِم
Brazilian Portuguese: cerimônia
Chinese: 仪式
Croatian: ceremonija
Czech: obřad
Danish: ceremoni
Dutch: ceremonie
European Spanish: ceremonia
Finnish: seremonia
French: cérémonie
German: Zeremonie
Greek: τελετή
Italian: cerimonia
Japanese: 儀式
Korean: 의식
Norwegian: seremoni
Polish: ceremonia
European Portuguese: cerimónia
Romanian: ceremonie
Russian: церемония
Latin American Spanish: ceremonia
Swedish: ceremoni
Thai: พิธีการ
Turkish: tören
Ukrainian: церемонія
Vietnamese: nghi lễ
All related terms of 'ceremony'
Amrit Ceremony
the ceremony of initiation into the Khalsa , at which amrit is drunk by and sprinkled on the heads of those to be initiated
award ceremony
ceremony at which an award is presented
awards ceremony
ceremony at which an award is presented
degree ceremony
a ceremony at which university degrees are awarded
Oscars ceremony
a formal annual event in the United States in which small gold statuettes are awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in films
induction ceremony
a ceremony held to mark a person's formal introduction or entry into an office, position, group, etc
launching ceremony
a ceremony that celebrates the launch of a ship for the first time into the water
marriage ceremony
the formal things that are said and done when two people are married
opening ceremony
a ceremony held in celebration of the start of something
without ceremony
in a casual or informal manner
graduation ceremony
the act of graduating or the state of being graduated
stand on ceremony
to insist on or act with excessive formality
Chinese translation of 'ceremony'
ceremony
(ˈsɛrɪmənɪ)
n
(c) (= event) 典礼(禮) (diǎnlǐ) (个(個), gè)
(= ritual) 礼(禮)仪(儀) (lǐyí) (种(種), zhǒng)
(u) (= formality) 仪(儀)式 (yíshì)
to stand on ceremony拘于(於)礼(禮)节(節) (jū yú lǐjié)
1 (noun)
Definition
a formal act or ritual performed for a special occasion
The flag was blessed in a ceremony in the local cathedral.
Synonyms
ritual
This is the most ancient and holiest of the rituals.
service
The President was attending the morning service.
rite
a fertility rite
observance
Numerous religious observances set the rhythm of the day.
commemoration
A special commemoration for her will be held next week.
solemnities
2 (noun)
Definition
formally polite behaviour
He was crowned with great ceremony.
Synonyms
formality
The will was read, but it was a formality.
ceremonial
It is difficult to imagine a more impressive ceremonial.
propriety
Their sense of social propriety is eroded.
decorum
I was treated with decorum and respect
formal courtesy
show
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ceremonial
Definition
a system of formal rites
It is difficult to imagine a more impressive ceremonial.
Synonyms
ritual,
ceremony,
rite,
formality,
solemnity
in the sense of commemoration
A special commemoration for her will be held next week.