What does marry mean?
Marry is a common English verb with several closely related uses. Its central meaning is to become united as husband and wife: people marry when they enter a legally or socially recognized marriage. It can also be used transitively for someone who performs the ceremony, as in “the minister married the couple,” or for an act or arrangement that joins two people in marriage. More broadly, marry means to combine two things into a single, effective whole, though this usage is less frequent in everyday speech. The word is neutral in tone and equally standard in British and American English. Its history reflects the language of marriage’s institutional history: the modern English word derives through Old French from Latin, where the vocabulary of marriage was associated with marital status, husbands, and family relationships. Marry remains useful because it can describe both the personal decision to become spouses and the official act that makes that status public.
verbTo become united as husband and wife, or to unite two people in marriage. It can also mean to combine two things so that they form a single, effective whole.
- To become legally or socially united as spouses.
- To perform a marriage ceremony or unite two people in marriage.
- To join or combine two things so that they form a close, effective combination.
"After several years together, they decided to marry."
"They married in a small civil ceremony last summer."
"The minister will marry the couple at noon."
One word captures both a private life-changing event and a public institution: you can marry a person, and a ceremony can officially marry two people.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does marry come from?
The English verb comes through Middle English from Old French marier, “to marry,” which was based on Latin maritare, “to unite in marriage.” Latin maritare was derived from maritus, meaning “husband” or “married man,” a root also reflected in English marital and the archaic English word marit, “husband.” The related English noun marriage developed through Old French mariage and ultimately the Latin vocabulary of marital status and wedlock.
Related word forms
How marry is actually used
The verb is neutral in register and standard in both British and American English. People marry a partner, while a officiant or authorized person marries two people. In the broader sense of combining things, marry often suggests an effective or close union.
Easily confused with marry
Marry means to unite in marriage, whereas merry means cheerful or joyful.