marriage
noun /ˈmærɪdʒ/
/ˈmærɪdʒ/
Word Family
Idioms - marry verb
- marriage noun
- married adjective (≠ unmarried)
- [countable] the legal relationship between two people who are married to each other
- a happy/an unhappy marriage
- All of her children's marriages ended in divorce.
- She has two children by a previous marriage.
- This is his second marriage.
- Same-sex marriages are now recognized in many countries.
Extra ExamplesTopics Life stagesb1, Law and justiceb1- He was the child of a broken marriage.
- She was the dominant partner in the marriage.
- They are struggling to save their marriage for the children's sake.
- The marriage only lasted for six months.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- good
- happy
- successful
- …
- have
- propose
- enter into
- …
- last
- be over
- break down
- …
- vows
- plans
- proposal
- …
- by a marriage
- from a marriage
- by marriage
- …
- ask for somebody’s hand in marriage
- win somebody’s hand in marriage
- the break-up of a marriage
- …
- [uncountable] the state of being married
- They don't believe in marriage.
- My parents are celebrating 30 years of marriage.
- Public support for gay marriage has risen.
- before/outside marriage They strongly disapprove of sex outside marriage.
Extra Examples- They are related by marriage.
- the institution of marriage
- the breakdown of a marriage
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- good
- happy
- successful
- …
- have
- propose
- enter into
- …
- last
- be over
- break down
- …
- vows
- plans
- proposal
- …
- by a marriage
- from a marriage
- by marriage
- …
- ask for somebody’s hand in marriage
- win somebody’s hand in marriage
- the break-up of a marriage
- …
- [countable] the ceremony in which two people marry each other
- Their marriage took place in a local church.
Collocations Marriage and divorceMarriage and divorceRomance- fall/be (madly/deeply/hopelessly) in love (with somebody)
- be/believe in/fall in love at first sight
- be/find true love/the love of your life
- suffer (from) (the pains/pangs of) unrequited love
- have/feel/show/express great/deep/genuine affection for somebody/something
- meet/marry your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
- have/go on a (blind) date
- be going out with/(especially North American English) dating a guy/girl/boy/man/woman
- move in with/live with your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
- get/be engaged/married/divorced
- arrange/plan a wedding
- have a big wedding/a honeymoon/a happy marriage
- have/enter into an arranged marriage
- call off/cancel/postpone your wedding
- invite somebody to/go to/attend a wedding/a wedding ceremony/a wedding reception
- conduct/perform a wedding ceremony
- exchange rings/wedding vows/marriage vows
- congratulate/toast/raise a glass to the happy couple
- be/go on honeymoon (with your wife/husband)
- celebrate your first (wedding) anniversary
- be unfaithful to/(informal) cheat on your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
- have an affair (with somebody)
- break off/end an engagement/a relationship
- break up with/split up with/ (informal) dump your boyfriend/girlfriend
- separate from/be separated from/leave/divorce your husband/wife
- annul/dissolve a marriage
- apply for/ask for/go through/get a divorce
- get/gain/be awarded/have/lose custody of the children
- pay alimony/child support (to your ex-wife/husband)
Extra ExamplesTopics Religion and festivalsb1- Mr and Mrs Wall invite you to the marriage of their daughter Ann to Mr Thomas Lea.
- She wanted to be present at the marriage of her grandson.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- Christian
- Jewish
- etc.
- …
- celebrate
- be held
- take place
- ceremony
- certificate
- contract
- …
- at a/the marriage
- marriage to
- a combination of two things
- marriage of A and B The new collection is a marriage of fashion and technology.
- marriage between A and B the marriage between a young team and an experienced coach
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French mariage, from marier ‘marry’.
Idioms
by marriage
- when somebody is related to you by marriage, they are married to somebody in your family, or you are married to somebody in their family
- Jane and I are related by marriage.
Wordfinder
- affair
- date
- go out with somebody
- jealous
- love
- marriage
- partner
- passionate
- relationship
- romantic
Wordfinder
- best man
- bride
- ceremony
- engaged
- honeymoon
- marriage
- propose
- reception
- stag night
- wedding
somebody’s hand (in marriage)
- (old-fashioned) permission to marry somebody, especially a woman
- He asked the general for his daughter's hand in marriage.