Cool MateCelebrate vs Let's raise a toast
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Celebrate
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Let's raise a toast
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: CelebrateMost common: Celebrate
| Celebrate | Let's raise a toast | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈselɪbreɪt/","/ˈselɪbreɪts/","/ˈselɪbreɪtɪd/","/ˈselɪbreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈselɪbreɪt/","/ˈselɪbreɪts/","/ˈselɪbreɪtɪd/","/ˈselɪbreɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //lɛts reɪz ə təʊst//🇺🇸 //lɛts reɪz ə toʊst// |
| Meaning | To mark a special occasion with fun and happiness. | To drink together to celebrate something. |
| Example | We gather every year to celebrate our family's traditions. | At the wedding reception, we all stood up and said, 'Let's raise a toast' to the happy couple. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | celebrate a birthday, celebrate an achievement, celebrate with friends, celebrate a holiday | raise a glass, make a toast, toast to, raise your glass, offer a toast |
| Antonyms | mourn, ignore, disregard | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Celebrate' is not used with a direct object for celebratory activities, e.g., saying 'celebrate with cake' instead of just 'celebrate'., Confusing 'celebrate' with 'observe', which has a different meaning., Using 'celebrate' inappropriately in somber contexts. | Using 'toast' as a verb instead of the phrase 'raise a toast'., Confusing 'toast' with the food item instead of the act of celebrating., Not providing a specific reason for the toast. |
| Usage notes | Use 'celebrate' when referring to honoring an event or achievement. It’s appropriate for formal and informal contexts, such as birthdays, holidays, and achievements. Avoid using it for mundane events. | Used during celebrations to express good wishes. Generally appropriate in casual settings but might be too informal in formal situations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Celebrate vs Let's raise a toast
What's the difference between Celebrate and Let's raise a toast?
Celebrate: To mark a special occasion with fun and happiness. Let's raise a toast: To drink together to celebrate something.
Which is more formal: Celebrate and Let's raise a toast?
Celebrate is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Celebrate and Let's raise a toast?
Celebrate is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Celebrate: We gather every year to celebrate our family's traditions. Let's raise a toast: At the wedding reception, we all stood up and said, 'Let's raise a toast' to the happy couple.
Can I use Celebrate and Let's raise a toast interchangeably?
Not always. Celebrate and Let's raise a toast are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.