Married
/ˈmærid/
Definitions
2 meaningsJoined in marriage; having a spouse.
/ˈmærid/
Joined in matrimony
They have been married for twenty years.
💡 Simply: Being 'married' is like when two people make a special promise to each other, like a super-official best-friendship, and live together as a family. They wear rings and they celebrate their 'wedding' every year.
👶 For kids: When a grown-up has a special friend they love a lot and they decide to be a family together, we say they are married!
More Examples
She is happily married to a doctor.
They are planning to get married next summer.
How It's Used
"They are legally married."
"She's happily married."
To join (two people) in marriage; to perform the marriage ceremony.
/ˈmæri/
To become joined in marriage.
The priest married them in a beautiful ceremony.
💡 Simply: To 'marry' someone is to officially join two people together as husband and wife. Like when the judge or the priest says the special words and they become a family.
👶 For kids: When someone says the special words to help two people become husband and wife!
More Examples
They decided to marry in the spring.
She's going to marry her best friend.
How It's Used
"The priest married them in the church."
"They got married last June."
From Middle English maried, past participle of marien ('to marry'), from Old French marier ('to marry'), from Latin marītāre ('to wed'), from marītus ('husband'), from *mārītus ('married'), from *mārītus ('having a husband').
The word 'married' has been used in English since the Middle Ages, reflecting the importance of marriage in society across centuries.
Memory tip
Think of the ring, vows, and shared life – these all define being married.