Definition and pronunciation
wed — verb: to marry; to join or unite (literally or figuratively).
Pronunciation: /wɛd/.
Easy explanation
Wed is a formal way to say “marry.” It also means “join together,” as in to wed art and science.
Part of speech and grammar
- Verb (transitive/intransitive): to wed someone; to wed
- Forms: wed/wedded (past), wed/wedded (past participle), weds (3rd person), wedding (present participle/gerund)
- Passive and set phrases: be wed; get wed (ceremonial/journalistic)
- Related nouns/adjectives: wedding, wedded, newlywed, wedlock
Register and tone
More formal or journalistic than marry. Neutral in legal or ceremonial contexts; poetic in headlines and literature.
Connection to sexuality
Indirect. Wed places events within marriage (e.g., intimacy between spouses), but it doesn’t describe sexual acts. Consent remains essential; marriage never equals automatic consent.
Common collocations
to wed in a ceremony; to wed on [date]; couple wed; to wed someone; plan to wed; wed A and B (combine); wedded bliss (with wedded); wedlock
Idioms and set phrases
tie the knot; get hitched (informal alternatives)
be (formally) wed; born in/out of wedlock (with the noun)
Prepositions and nuance
- wed to someone/idea — marry; or be firmly committed (wed to tradition).
- wed in church/court/garden — place or setting.
- wed into a family — marry and join that family.
- wed with (literary) — combine with: policy wed with practice.
- wed for love/companionship/legal reasons — motive.
The preposition narrows context (who, where, why, or what is being joined).
Word comparisons
- wed vs marry — marry is everyday; wed is formal/journalistic.
- wed vs wedded — wedded is the participle/adjective (wedded couple, wedded to an idea).
- wed vs nuptials — nuptials is a noun meaning the wedding ceremony.
- wed vs unite/join — figurative wed means “join closely,” often for styles or fields.
- wed vs marital/matrimonial — those are adjectives about marriage; wed is the verb.
Real-life examples
- The couple will wed in June at a small civil ceremony.
- The startup aims to wed usability with strong security.
- The paper announced that two actors wed after a private ceremony.
- She wed into a large extended family and moved cities.
- The designer weds traditional textiles with modern cuts.
Sample sentences
- They plan to wed next spring.
- The exhibit weds craft and technology to stunning effect.
- After years together, they finally wedded in a quiet ceremony.
- He’s too wed to the old workflow to try the new tool.
- The novel’s plot weds comedy with social critique.
Synonyms
marry, espouse, unite, join, bind, fuse, couple, combine, ally, pair, tie the knot, get hitched
Antonyms
divorce, separate, annul, split, sever, part
Related terms
wedding, wedded, newlywed, wedlock, marital, matrimonial, conjugal, spouse, partner, prenuptial, postnuptial, elope, ceremony, vows
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