Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense marries, present participle marrying, past tense, past participle married
1. verb
When two people get married or marry, they legally become partners in a special ceremony. Get married is less formal and more commonly used than marry.
I thought he would change after we got married. [getVERB-ed]
They married a month after they met. [VERB]
He wants to marry her. [VERB noun]
He got married to wife Beryl when he was 19. [getV-ed + to]
I am getting married on Monday. [getVERB-ed]
She ought to marry again, don't you think? [VERB]
Synonyms: tie the knot [informal], wed, take the plunge [informal], walk down the aisle [informal] More Synonyms of marry
2. verb
When a priest or official marries two people, he or she conducts the ceremony in which the two people legally become partners.
The local vicar has agreed to marry us in the chapel on the estate. [VERB noun]
In July 1957, we were married in New York. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If a parent marries their child to someone, the parent chooses who their child will marry and arranges it.
Phrasal verbs:
See marry off
More Synonyms of marry
marry in British English1
(ˈmærɪ)
verbWord forms: -ries, -rying or -ried
1.
to take (someone as one's partner) in marriage
2. (transitive)
to join or give in marriage
3. (transitive)
to acquire (something) by marriage
marry money
4.
to unite closely or intimately
5. (transitive; sometimes foll byup)
to fit together or align (two things); join
6. (transitive) nautical
a.
to match up (the strands) of unlaid ropes before splicing
b.
to seize (two ropes) together at intervals along their lengths
Derived forms
marrier (ˈmarrier)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French marier, from Latin marītāre, from marītus married (man), perhaps from mās male
marry in British English2
(ˈmærɪ)
exclamation
archaic
an exclamation of surprise, anger, etc
Word origin
C14: euphemistic for the Virgin Mary
marry in American English1
(ˈmæri) (verb-ried, -rying)
transitive verb
1.
to take as a husband or wife; take in marriage
Sam married Toni
2.
to perform the marriage ceremonies for (a couple); join in wedlock
The minister married Sam and Toni
3.
to give in marriage; arrange the marriage of
(often fol. by off)
Her father wants to marry her to his friend's son
They want to marry off all their children before selling their big home
4.
to unite intimately
Common economic interests marry the two countries
5.
to take as an intimate life partner by a formal exchange of promises in the manner of a traditional marriage ceremony
6.
to combine, connect, or join so as to make more efficient, attractive, or profitable
The camera marries automatic and manual features
A recent merger marries two of the nation's largest corporations
7. Nautical
a.
to lay together (the unlaid strands of two ropes) to be spliced
b.
to seize (two ropes) together end to end for use as a single line
c.
to seize (parallel ropes) together at intervals
8.
to cause (food, liquor, etc.) to blend with other ingredients
to marry malt whiskey with grain whiskey
intransitive verb
9.
to take a husband or wife; wed
10. (of two or more foods, wines, etc.)
to combine suitably or agreeably; blend
This wine and the strong cheese just don't marry
Derived forms
marrier
noun
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME marien ‹ OF marier ‹ L marītāre to wed, deriv. of marītus conjugal, akin to mās male (person)]
marry in American English2
(ˈmæri)
interjection
archaic
(used as an exclamation of surprise, astonishment, etc.)
Word origin
[1325–75; ME; euphemistic var. of mary (the Virgin)]
Examples of 'marry' in a sentence
marry
Would you like to get married again?
The Sun (2017)
My partner said we would marry legally.
The Sun (2017)
Be firm and tell your father that you will not marry until you meet the right person.
The Sun (2016)
At the time he was divorcing his wife to whom he had been married for less than three years.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
While still married to Rocky he gushed about his cougar bride.
The Sun (2016)
I also got down on one knee and asked her to marry me again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was to marry again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
People around me who get divorced want to get married again.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The couple shared similar goals and both had parents who married young.
The Sun (2014)
They would have been important as we were married less than six years.
The Sun (2006)
How can you think of getting married and cheating?
The Sun (2010)
They married after two years and have a son together.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Pull yourself together and marry one of them.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She was married twice and is survived by two daughters.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Do both of you still want to marry?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We had been legally married for six years.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We got on at first but all that changed when we married.
The Sun (2016)
His mum married again and lost touch with my wife and me.
The Sun (2010)
In all the days they were married my parents had not spent a day apart.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They had been married less than three weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He hopes to find a house and get married in the next two years.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Most young people live together before getting married.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Quotations
Thus grief still treads upon the heels of pleasure: Marry'd in haste, we may repent at leisureWilliam CongreveThe Old Bachelor
Never marry for money, but marry where money is
In other languages
marry
British English: marry /ˈmærɪ/ VERB
When two people get married or marry, they become each other's husband and wife during a special ceremony.