Marry

/ˈmæri/

verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To become husband and wife in a formal ceremony.

/ˈmæri/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To enter into a formal union as husband and wife.

She decided to marry him after dating for five years.

💡 Simply: When two people decide to make their relationship super official and promise to love each other forever, they marry! It’s like saying 'I do' and having a big party with cake!

👶 For kids: To get married means a grown up decides to be a husband or wife forever.

More Examples

2

They plan to marry in the spring.

3

He married his high school sweetheart.

How It's Used

Social

"They are planning to marry next summer."

Legal

"In many countries, you must obtain a license to marry."

2

To combine or join (two things) in a close or supportive relationship.

/ˈmæri/

verbneutralmedium
General

To unite or join (two things) in a close relationship.

The new software marries the best features of the old system with new upgrades.

💡 Simply: Sometimes, 'marry' means to bring two different things together really well. Like when a chef 'marries' flavors in a dish—they make them taste amazing together!

👶 For kids: To marry can also mean to put two things together to make them better.

More Examples

2

The architect married modern design with eco-friendly materials.

3

The book successfully marries romance with suspense.

How It's Used

Figurative

"The author successfully married historical fact with fiction."

Business

"The two companies will marry their technologies to create a superior product."

Tip:Like combining ingredients, you 'marry' different elements.

Idioms & expressions

to get hitched

To get married.

"They decided to get hitched in Vegas."

to pop the question

To propose marriage.

"He's planning to pop the question on their anniversary."

From Old French marier, from Latin marītāre, meaning 'to wed, to give in marriage,' derived from marītus meaning 'husband'.

Historically, 'marry' has consistently referred to the act of joining two people in matrimony, evolving from a formal declaration to encompass the emotional aspect of partnership.

Memory tip

Think of a *merry* couple at a wedding.

merymarymarrey

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written