ceremony
gb/sˈɛɹɪmˌoʊni/ us/sˈɛɹɪmˌoʊni/
B1
English
~ 6700
ceremónia, szertartás, ünnepség, rituálé, formaságoskodás, formaság
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
a [type] ceremony for [occasion]
Their wedding ceremony was held in a small country church.
Az esküvői szertartásukat egy kis vidéki templomban tartották.
The Olympics began with a spectacular opening ceremony.
Az olimpia látványos megnyitóünnepséggel kezdődött.
Please be seated; the graduation ceremony is about to start.
The awards ceremony will take place next Friday evening.
The memorial ceremony honored those who had lost their lives.
Learner examples
The wedding ceremony was very long.
Az esküvői szertartás nagyon hosszú volt.
We went to the school ceremony for new students.
Elmentünk az új diákoknak rendezett iskolai ünnepségre.
The city had a big ceremony to open the new bridge.
Family and friends came to the funeral ceremony.
They watched the ceremony on television.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"wedding party"* or *"wedding festival"* when they mean the formal part; use *"wedding ceremony"* for the official event and *"reception"* or *"party"* for the celebration after. Also, remember that *ceremony* is countable: say *"a ceremony"* or *"two ceremonies"*, not *"many ceremony"*.
Meaning
formal event for special occasion
Collocations
wedding ceremony
|graduation ceremony
|opening ceremony
|awards ceremony
|funeral ceremony
|religious ceremony
Synonyms
service (Often used for religious or official public ceremonies, especially in churches or state events.)
|
event (More general; not always formal, so it is broader than “ceremony”.)
Antonyms
informal gathering (Highlights a meeting without the formal structure or rules typical of a ceremony.)
Themes
social life
|culture
|events
|daily_life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A formal event to mark something important, like a wedding, graduation, or opening of a building.
A formal public or social event held to mark an important occasion, often following an agreed set of actions and words.
NOUN
B2
2
szertartás
B1
rituálé
B2
Usage pattern:
the ceremony of [ritual/practice]
The ceremony of the Mass follows a strict and ancient order.
A mise szertartása szigorú és ősi rendet követ.
According to tradition, the ceremony must be performed at sunrise.
A hagyomány szerint a szertartást napkeltekor kell elvégezni.
Every part of the coronation ceremony has a symbolic meaning.
The initiation ceremony includes several complex rituals.
Anthropologists studied the harvest ceremony practiced by the villagers.
Learner examples
The priest explained the ceremony to us.
A pap elmagyarázta nekünk a szertartást.
In this ceremony, they light a small fire.
A szertartás során kis tüzet gyújtanak.
The ceremony is always done in the same way.
This old ceremony is part of their culture.
The book describes the ceremony in detail.
Common mistake:
Learners may not see the difference between *ceremony* as a whole event and *ceremony* as the ritual actions. When you talk about the step-by-step actions and words (for example, parts of a religious service), *ritual* or this sense of *ceremony* is more accurate than just calling it an *event*.
Meaning
set ritual of actions and words
Collocations
ancient ceremony
|traditional ceremony
|religious ceremony
|elaborate ceremony
|the ceremony of the Mass
|ceremony and ritual
Synonyms
ritual (Very close in meaning; often used when focusing on the repeated, symbolic actions themselves.)
|
rite (More formal and often religious; commonly used for specific rituals like *rites of passage*.)
Antonyms
spontaneity (Highlights behavior that is natural and unplanned, without fixed ritual or structure.)
Themes
religion
|culture
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The fixed way of doing and saying things in a religious or traditional act, always in the same order.
The set pattern of formal actions and words that make up a religious, traditional, or official ritual.
NOUN
C1
3
formaság
B1
Usage pattern:
without ceremony / stand on ceremony with [someone]
Please don’t stand on ceremony; just call me Anna.
Kérlek, ne formaságoskodj; szólíts csak Annának.
He greeted us without ceremony and showed us straight to the kitchen.
Minden formaság nélkül üdvözölt minket, és egyenesen a konyhába vezetett.
The manager prefers informality and dislikes too much ceremony at work.
She entered without ceremony and began to speak.
They completed the deal with little ceremony and no speeches.
Learner examples
You do not need ceremony with close friends.
Közeli barátokkal nincs szükség formaságoskodásra.
He spoke to his boss without ceremony.
Minden formaság nélkül beszélt a főnökével.
She likes simple meetings, without ceremony.
They welcomed us with no ceremony at all.
Please do not stand on ceremony here.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the main meaning of *ceremony* as an event. In phrases like *"without ceremony"* or *"stand on ceremony"*, it does not mean an event; it means formal behavior or polite rules. In these cases, you cannot replace it with *event* or *party*.
Meaning
formal polite behavior or formality
Collocations
without ceremony
|stand on ceremony
|no need for ceremony
|a lot of ceremony
|with little ceremony
Synonyms
formality (Very close in this sense; emphasizes following rules and behaving in a stiff, official way.)
Antonyms
informality (Suggests relaxed, casual behavior without strict rules of politeness.)
Themes
social life
|politeness
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very formal and careful behavior, following many rules of politeness.
Formal, often stiff or excessive, politeness and attention to social rules and manners.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ceremony
IPA
GB/sˈɛɹɪmˌoʊni/
US/sˈɛɹɪmˌoʊni/
Syllables & stress
ce - re - mony (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ce)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ceremony
- Plural: ceremonies, ceremony
Word family
Forms
ceremonies
noun
Core family
ceremonial
adjective B2
Related words
ceremonially
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unceremonious
adjective
unceremoniously
adverb
Advanced or less common
ceremonious
adjective
Expressions
civil ceremony
1/sˈɪvəl sˈɛɹɪmˌoʊni/
fixed phrase
non-religious legal wedding ceremony
A wedding ceremony done by a government official, not in a church or other religious place.
Examples
- They chose a civil ceremony at the town hall instead of a church wedding.
- The couple had a small civil ceremony and a big party later.
- In some countries, you must have a civil ceremony for your marriage to be legal.
stand on ceremony
1/stˈænd ˈɔn sˈɛɹɪmˌoʊni/
idiom
insist on being very formal
To behave in a very formal way or expect others to follow strict social rules and polite behavior.
Examples
- Please don’t stand on ceremony; help yourself to coffee.
- He always stands on ceremony and insists that everyone use his full title.
- They told us not to stand on ceremony and to treat the place like home.
without ceremony
1/wɪðˈaʊt sˈɛɹɪmˌoʊni/
fixed phrase
in an informal, simple way
In a simple, informal way, without special polite actions or speeches.
Examples
- The guests left without ceremony after the meeting finished.
- She opened the gift without ceremony and began to use it immediately.
- The manager announced the change without ceremony and moved on to the next point.