celebrated

1. 1
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of celebrate.

   The town celebrated the harvest festival with fireworks and music.

   The victory was celebrated by thousands of fans in the streets.

   Note

   One form does the work of two: they celebrated (simple past) and it has been celebrated (participle after have or be). The passive needs a transitive sense, so a rite or a victory is celebrated, while the sense of joyful activity can stand alone: we celebrated all night. In the city was celebrated for its music, the word has crossed into the adjective meaning "famous". A by-phrase naming who did the celebrating keeps it a verb.

2. 2
   adjective

   Widely known and greatly praised by the public.

   Like a monument so renowned that travelers cross the world to see it.

   The celebrated author drew huge crowds at the book signing.

   Her celebrated research changed how doctors treat the disease.

   Similarfamous, renowned, acclaimed, eminent, distinguished

   Oppositeunknown, obscure

   Note

   Fame that grew out of praise: the adjective comes from the verb's sense of extolling or honoring solemnly, so a celebrated person is one the public honors in talk and reputation rather than in prizes. An actress can be celebrated and still win no major awards. It sits naturally before a noun (a celebrated chef, the most celebrated case) and compares with more and most.

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