Definition and pronunciation
marry — verb: to enter into a legal or recognized union with someone; also, to join or blend things into a harmonious whole (literal or figurative).
Pronunciation: /ˈmæri/.
Easy explanation
Marry means “to get married.” It can also mean “to combine well,” as in “marry flavors.” The word itself is about a union—not about sex or consent, which must always be explicit.
Part of speech and grammar
- Verb (transitive/intransitive): marry someone; They will marry in June.
- Forms: marries, married, marrying.
- Set frames: marry A to/with B (blend or connect), marry into (join a family or social group), marry off (arrange a marriage for someone).
- Usage tip: say marry someone or get married to someone (not “marry with/to someone” in modern English).
Register and tone
Neutral; common in law, journalism, and everyday speech. Figurative “blend/combine” is frequent in food, fashion, and design.
Connection to sexuality
Indirect. The verb marks a union; it doesn’t grant sexual consent or describe sexual behavior. Terms like marital intimacy or marital rape address sexual matters within marriage; consent is always required.
Common collocations
marry young/late; marry for love/money; marry into wealth/royalty; marry up/down (social, dated/critical); marry well (old-fashioned); marry the flavors; marry form and function; plan to marry; legally marry; marry under civil/religious law
Idioms and expressions
- marry in haste, repent at leisure — warning about rushing a marriage (proverb).
- marry off — arrange a partner for someone (traditional/dated).
- marry into — join a family/social class by marriage.
- marry A with/to B — combine: marry spice with citrus.
- be married to (idea/work) — be strongly committed.
Prepositions and nuance
- marry into a family/culture — entry by marriage.
- marry off a son/daughter — arranging (dated).
- marry A to/with B — blend or connect two things.
- be married to someone/idea — literal spouse or metaphorical commitment.
Prepositions shift the focus from legal union to social entry or combination.
Word comparisons
- marry vs wed — wed is a bit more formal or journalistic; marry is everyday.
- marry vs get married — same idea; get married to is common with a preposition; marry someone takes a direct object.
- marry vs wedding — wedding is the ceremony; marry is the act/state.
- marry vs spouse/partner — those are nouns for the people.
- marry vs unite/join — figurative “blend” overlaps (to marry flavors).
Real-life examples
- They decided to marry after five years together.
- The chef marries smoked paprika with lemon for balance.
- She married into a big, close-knit family.
- Headlines said the actors married in a small civil ceremony.
- The design marries traditional textiles with modern cuts.
Sample sentences
- We plan to marry next spring in a park ceremony.
- The sauce marries heat and sweetness beautifully.
- He’s married to his routine and resists change.
- After the move, they married at City Hall with two witnesses.
- The proposal aims to marry speed with safety.
Synonyms
wed, get married, tie the knot, espouse, unite, join, couple, blend, fuse, combine
Antonyms
divorce, separate, annul, split, sever
Related terms
marriage, wedding, wedded, spouse, partner, fiancé/fiancée, wedlock, prenuptial, postnuptial, marital, matrimonial, conjugal, civil union, domestic partnership, consent
Notes and etiquette
Be precise with grammar (marry someone vs get married to someone). Avoid dated or classist phrases like marry well unless you’re analyzing their tone. Remember: marriage is a legal/social status; consent and boundaries in intimacy are separate and ongoing.
- Sexopedia.co is an educational glossary of sexual and gender-related terms—helping you improve your English while deepening your understanding of identity, language, and self-expression.