ceremonious

adjective

cer·​e·​mo·​ni·​ous ˌser-ə-ˈmō-nē-əs How to pronounce ceremonious (audio)
ˌse-rə-
1
: devoted to forms and ceremony
ceremonious courtiers
2
: of, relating to, or constituting a ceremony
a ceremonious occasion
3
: according to formal usage or prescribed procedures
the cold and ceremonious politeness of her curtseyJane Austen
4
: marked by ceremony
a ceremonious procession
ceremoniously adverb
ceremoniousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for ceremonious

ceremonial, ceremonious, formal, conventional mean marked by attention to or adhering strictly to prescribed forms.

ceremonial and ceremonious both imply strict attention to what is prescribed by custom or by ritual, but ceremonial applies to things that are associated with ceremonies

a ceremonial offering

, ceremonious to persons given to ceremony or to acts attended by ceremony.

made his ceremonious entrance

formal applies both to things prescribed by and to persons obedient to custom and may suggest stiff, restrained, or old-fashioned behavior.

a formal report
the headmaster's formal manner

conventional implies accord with general custom and usage

conventional courtesy

and may suggest a stodgy lack of originality or independence.

conventional fiction

Examples of ceremonious in a Sentence

She read the announcement in a very ceremonious way. a century ago everyday life was much more ceremonious than in our anything-goes era
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The ceremonious confection has, after all, been a tradition for millennia: its roots trace back to ancient Rome, where grooms would break a barley cake over their bride’s head to officialize their union. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 27 July 2024 When the Eagle lifted off to join the Columbia, Aldrin reported seeing the rocket blast knock the flag over, an unceremonious end to a very ceremonious beginning. Jay R. Jordan, Axios, 19 July 2024 Even so, Miller could have given him a more ceremonious sendoff, especially since the scenes between Taylor-Joy and Burke are the parts that give the movie an actual heartbeat. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024 Passover is a ceremonious occasion to rejoice in Judaism, especially during the first family meal or Seder, according to britannica.com. Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ceremonious 

Word History

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ceremonious was in 1553

Dictionary Entries Near ceremonious

Cite this Entry

“Ceremonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceremonious. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ceremonious

adjective
cer·​e·​mo·​ni·​ous ˌser-ə-ˈmō-nē-əs How to pronounce ceremonious (audio)
1
2
: careful to observe forms and ceremony : formal
ceremoniously adverb
ceremoniousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ceremonious

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!