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A2 verb #4,000 most common 16 min read

marry

Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips marry in 30 Seconds

Explanation marry in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'marry' is one of the basic action words you learn to describe families and relationships. It usually appears in very simple sentences about people's lives. You might say 'I want to marry him' or 'They marry in June.' At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex grammar. Just remember that 'marry' is the action and 'married' is the state. For example, 'He is married' tells us about his life right now. You will often see this word when learning about family members, like 'My mother and father married twenty years ago.' It's a key word for talking about personal dreams and simple stories. You should focus on the fact that you marry a person directly; you don't need 'with.' Even at this early level, knowing 'Will you marry me?' is useful because it is so common in English-speaking culture. You will also learn the word 'wedding' as the name of the party. Keep your sentences short and focus on the subject and the person they are marrying. A1 learners should practice the present and past simple forms: 'marry' and 'married.' This allows you to talk about both future plans and past events in a family history.

At the A2 level, you start to use 'marry' in more varied ways, including the very common phrase 'get married.' You learn that 'get married' is the most natural way to talk about the event in daily life. For example, instead of just saying 'They marry,' you would say 'They are getting married.' You also begin to understand the difference between 'marry' (the action) and 'married' (the adjective). You might say 'She is a married woman.' At this level, you should be careful with prepositions. You learn that you are 'married TO' someone, not 'WITH' someone. This is a big step in making your English sound more natural. You can also start using 'marry' to talk about plans using 'going to': 'We are going to marry in Hawaii.' You might also encounter the word in simple stories or news about famous people. You are expected to know the past tense 'married' and the present continuous 'marrying.' You can also use it to ask questions about other people's lives, like 'When did your parents marry?' or 'Do you want to get married one day?' This level focuses on using the word correctly in common social situations and basic personal descriptions.

At the B1 level, you move beyond simple descriptions and start using 'marry' in more complex grammatical structures, such as the present perfect and modal verbs. You can say 'They have been married for ten years,' which is a very important structure for describing duration. You also begin to understand the nuances of using 'marry' as a transitive verb versus 'get married.' For instance, you know that 'He married her' sounds a bit more formal or narrative than 'He got married to her.' You might also start to see the word used in a slightly more abstract way, like 'marrying' two ideas together, though this is more common at higher levels. At B1, you can discuss cultural traditions related to marriage using the word. You might say, 'In my country, people usually marry in their late twenties.' You are also comfortable using the word in conditional sentences: 'If I marry him, I will move to London.' This level requires a good grasp of the different parts of speech related to the word: the verb 'marry,' the noun 'marriage,' and the adjective 'married.' You can also use the word in the passive voice more confidently: 'The couple was married by a local judge.' This shows a deeper understanding of how the word functions in various sentence types.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'marry' and its related forms with high accuracy and a sense of style. You understand the metaphorical use of 'marry' to describe the combination of two qualities or things. For example, 'The dish marries the sweetness of honey with the heat of chili.' You can use this in essays or professional presentations to describe integration and harmony. You also become familiar with common idioms like 'tie the knot' or 'marry into money.' Your understanding of the word extends to social and legal contexts; you can discuss 'intermarriage,' 'civil marriage,' or 'remarrying.' You are aware of the register—knowing when to use the formal 'wed' versus the neutral 'marry' or the informal 'get hitched.' Your grammar is precise; you never use 'married with' and you correctly use 'married to' in all contexts. You can also use the word in more complex narrative tenses, like the past perfect: 'They had already married by the time the war ended.' This level involves using the word to express nuanced ideas about society, relationships, and professional strategy, showing that you can handle both the literal and figurative meanings of the word with ease.

At the C1 level, your use of 'marry' is sophisticated and sensitive to context. You can use the word to discuss complex sociological concepts, such as how economic factors influence when people marry. You are comfortable with the archaic use of 'marry' as an interjection in classic literature, though you wouldn't use it in speech. You can analyze how the word 'marry' is used in legal contracts versus how it is used in romantic poetry. In a professional setting, you might use 'marry' to describe the synergy between two merged companies: 'The merger aims to marry the technological prowess of the startup with the global reach of the parent company.' You have a wide range of synonyms at your disposal and can choose 'espouse,' 'unite,' 'fuse,' or 'wed' based on the exact nuance you want to convey. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its cultural implications across different English-speaking societies. Your writing is free of any prepositional errors, and you can use the word in complex structures like 'Having married young, they grew up together.' This level demonstrates a mastery of the word's full range of meanings, from the most intimate personal act to the most abstract conceptual union.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like or near-native command of 'marry.' You can use the word with subtle irony, humor, or deep philosophical intent. You might use it in a highly literary way to describe the joining of disparate elements in a complex system: 'His philosophy marries the existential dread of the 20th century with a surprising, buoyant optimism.' You are fully aware of the legal, historical, and religious baggage the word carries and can navigate these complexities in high-level discussions or academic writing. You can effortlessly switch between registers, using 'get hitched' in a humorous toast and 'solemnize a marriage' in a legal brief. Your understanding includes the most obscure collocations and rare uses. You can critique the use of the word in political discourse, such as the rhetorical power of the phrase 'the right to marry.' At this level, the word 'marry' is not just a vocabulary item but a versatile tool that you can use to create precise, evocative, and powerful language. You understand the etymological roots and how they influence modern usage, and you can use the word to explore the human condition in all its complexity. Your mastery is such that you can play with the word's meaning to create double entendres or complex metaphors in creative writing.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

marry in 30 Seconds

To marry is to legally and formally join with another person as a spouse, often through a ceremony involving vows and legal documentation.
The word can also describe the person who performs the wedding ceremony, such as a priest, judge, or authorized official in a formal setting.
Metaphorically, it refers to the blending or combining of two different ideas, styles, or entities to create a new, harmonious, and unified whole.
It is a transitive verb, meaning you marry someone directly without using the preposition 'with,' which is a very common mistake for English learners.

The verb marry is a fundamental word in the English language used to describe the legal, social, or religious act of two people becoming partners in a marriage. At its most basic level, it refers to the ceremony or the legal process where two individuals commit to each other as spouses. However, the word carries significant cultural weight and varies in usage depending on whether you are talking about the act itself, the person performing the ceremony, or the abstract joining of two things. When we say 'they married,' we are focusing on the event or the transition from being single to being a couple. In modern English, 'marry' is often used transitively, meaning you marry someone. You do not 'marry with' someone, which is a very common mistake for learners. The word is used in romantic contexts, legal discussions, and even in business when two companies join together. Understanding 'marry' requires recognizing its different forms: the active 'to marry,' the passive 'to be married,' and the causative 'to get married.'

The Legal Act: To enter into a formal contract recognized by the state or a religious body. This involves signing documents and often a public declaration of intent.
The Ceremony: The ritualistic event where vows are exchanged. In this context, 'marry' can refer to the couple or the official (priest, judge) who performs the rites.

After five years of dating, they finally decided to marry in a quiet ceremony by the sea.

Beyond romance, 'marry' is used metaphorically to describe the successful combination of two different qualities, ideas, or entities. For instance, a chef might marry spicy flavors with sweet undertones, or an architect might marry modern technology with classical design. This usage highlights the concept of harmony and permanent union. It is a versatile word that moves from the intimacy of a bedroom to the boardroom of a multinational corporation. When using 'marry' in this sense, it implies that the two things joined are now better together than they were apart. It suggests a seamless integration where the boundaries between the two original parts become blurred to create a new, unified whole.

Social Context: In many cultures, to marry is seen as a rite of passage into adulthood and family responsibility. It often involves families joining together, not just individuals.

The priest will marry the couple at two o'clock this afternoon.

Historically, 'marry' also had a role as an interjection (an exclamation), though this is now archaic and found only in literature like Shakespeare. It was a shortened version of 'by Mary' (referring to the Virgin Mary) and was used to express surprise or emphasis. In modern conversation, you will never hear this. Today, 'marry' is strictly about union. Whether you are filling out a tax form (marital status) or writing a poem about the sea marrying the sky at the horizon, the core concept remains the same: two becoming one. The word is also central to many idioms and common expressions, such as 'marry into money' or 'marry for love,' which describe the motivations behind the union.

It is difficult to marry the demands of a high-pressure career with the needs of a young family.

Abstract Union: The blending of concepts, such as marrying tradition with innovation in a new restaurant concept.

She chose to marry her passion for art with her skills in computer programming.

The novel manages to marry historical facts with a gripping fictional plot.

Using 'marry' correctly in a sentence involves understanding its transitive nature and its various forms. When you use the verb actively, you usually have a subject (the person doing the marrying) and an object (the person being married). For example, 'John married Sarah.' Here, 'John' is the subject and 'Sarah' is the object. You do not need a preposition. A common mistake is saying 'John married with Sarah,' which is incorrect in English. If you want to use a preposition, you must use the passive form: 'John is married to Sarah.' This distinction is crucial for sounding natural. The word 'marry' can also be used when a third party, like a priest or a judge, performs the ceremony. In this case, the official is the subject: 'The minister married the couple.' This means the minister conducted the wedding ceremony for them.

Active Voice: Subject + marry + Object. Example: 'He wants to marry her next summer.'
Passive/State Voice: Subject + be + married + to + Object. Example: 'She has been married to him for ten years.'

Will you marry me? (The classic proposal sentence).

Another very common way to use this word is with the verb 'get.' Using 'get married' focuses on the event of the wedding or the change in status. 'We are getting married in June' describes the upcoming event. 'They got married last week' describes the past event. While 'marry' is more formal, 'get married' is the most common way people talk about the act in everyday conversation. When using 'get married,' if you want to mention the partner, you still use 'to.' For example, 'He got married to his high school sweetheart.' The word 'marry' also appears in the future tense frequently, especially in plans: 'I think I will marry someone who loves travel as much as I do.' In formal writing, you might see 'intermarry,' which refers to marrying between different groups or families.

The Official's Role: Using 'marry' to mean 'perform the ceremony.' Example: 'The captain of a ship can marry people at sea.'

They decided to marry in secret to avoid the drama of a large wedding.

Metaphorical sentences often follow the pattern: 'Marry [A] with [B].' For instance, 'The designer tried to marry comfort with style.' Here, 'with' is used because you are joining two inanimate things together. This is different from the romantic context. You can also say 'marry [A] and [B]': 'The film marries documentary footage and fictional narrative.' In these cases, 'marry' acts as a synonym for blend, combine, or integrate. It is a powerful word in professional contexts to show that two disparate elements have been brought together perfectly. In legal contexts, you might see 'marry' used in terms of rights and obligations: 'The couple was legally married under the laws of the state.' This formal usage emphasizes the contract rather than the emotion.

She was the first in her family to marry outside of her religion.

Causative Use: When parents arrange a marriage: 'The King married his daughter to the Prince of Spain.'

The company aims to marry affordability with high-end performance.

It is a tradition for the father to give his daughter away when she goes to marry.

You will encounter the word 'marry' in a vast array of life situations, from the most emotional moments to the most clinical legal environments. The most obvious place is during a wedding ceremony. Whether it is a grand church wedding or a quick visit to a courthouse, the word 'marry' is central to the vows: 'Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?' In movies and TV shows, the 'proposal scene' is a staple trope where one character asks, 'Will you marry me?' This specific phrase is perhaps the most famous use of the word globally. You also hear it in news reports when celebrities or royal family members get engaged or have a wedding. Headlines often read, 'Prince to Marry Long-time Girlfriend' or 'Pop Star Marries in Secret Ceremony.'

Pop Culture: In songs, 'marry' is a frequent theme. Think of Bruno Mars' 'Marry You' or Taylor Swift's songs about romance and long-term commitment. It represents the ultimate goal of many romantic narratives.
Legal and Official Settings: When filling out forms for a bank, insurance, or a visa, you will see 'Marital Status.' While 'marry' is the verb, 'married' is the status. Lawyers use it when discussing prenuptial agreements or the legal rights of spouses.

'By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you married.' (Commonly heard at the end of a wedding).

In professional environments, 'marry' is used in a more abstract but equally common way. During a marketing meeting, someone might say, 'We need to marry our brand identity with the current market trends.' In this context, it isn't about weddings; it's about strategy and integration. You will hear this in design, engineering, and business strategy. It implies a perfect fit. If a project 'marries' two ideas well, it is considered a success. In literature and history, 'marry' is used to describe alliances between nations. 'The princess was married to the neighboring king to ensure peace.' This reminds us that historically, marrying was often a political tool rather than a romantic choice. Even today, in some cultures, the word carries this weight of family and social alliance.

Social Media: Hashtags like #JustMarried or #MarryMe are incredibly popular, showing how the word is used to announce major life milestones to the world.

'They are going to marry in the same church where her parents were wed forty years ago.'

Finally, you hear the word in discussions about social change. Phrases like 'same-sex marriage' or 'the right to marry' have been central to political and legal debates globally for the past few decades. In these contexts, 'marry' represents a civil right and a form of social recognition. It is a word that sparks passion, debate, and celebration. Whether you are listening to a podcast about relationship advice, reading a historical novel about royal lineages, or attending a friend's wedding, 'marry' is a word that connects the personal with the societal. It is ubiquitous because the institution it describes is one of the most universal aspects of human society, regardless of the specific traditions or laws involved.

The documentary explores why people choose to marry later in life compared to previous generations.

Religious Context: In many faiths, to marry is considered a sacred covenant. The word is used in sermons and religious texts to describe a spiritual union.

The couple asked their childhood priest to marry them in a traditional ceremony.

Does the law allow a captain to marry two people while on international waters?

The most frequent mistake English learners make with the word 'marry' is using the wrong preposition. In many languages, the equivalent verb is followed by a word meaning 'with.' This leads students to say, 'He married with her.' In English, this is incorrect. You marry someone (no preposition). Another common error occurs when using the passive form. Learners often say, 'She is married with him,' but the correct preposition for the state of being married is 'to.' So, 'She is married to him' is the right way to say it. These small errors can immediately signal that a speaker is not yet fluent, so it is worth practicing the correct patterns: 'Marry [someone]' and 'Be married to [someone].' Remembering this distinction is the single most important step in mastering the word.

Preposition Pitfall: Wrong: 'I want to marry with you.' Right: 'I want to marry you.' Wrong: 'He is married with a doctor.' Right: 'He is married to a doctor.'
Confusing 'Marry' and 'Marriage': Learners sometimes use the noun when they need a verb. Wrong: 'They want to marriage next year.' Right: 'They want to marry next year' or 'They want to get married next year.'

Incorrect: She married with her boyfriend in Las Vegas. Correct: She married her boyfriend in Las Vegas.

Another area of confusion is the difference between 'marry' and 'get married.' While they mean roughly the same thing, 'get married' is much more common in spoken English when referring to the event. 'We're getting married' sounds more natural than 'We're marrying' in a casual conversation. However, 'marry' is necessary when there is a direct object. You wouldn't usually say 'I'm getting married him'; you must say 'I'm marrying him' or 'I'm getting married to him.' Misusing these structures can make sentences feel clunky or grammatically broken. Additionally, the past tense 'married' is often confused with the adjective 'married.' In the sentence 'They are married,' 'married' is an adjective describing their status. In 'They married in 1990,' 'married' is the past tense of the verb.

Spelling Mistakes: Common misspellings include 'marryed' instead of 'married' and 'mariage' instead of 'marriage.' Always remember the 'y' changes to 'i' before 'ed' or 'age'.

Incorrect: They are marrying since 2010. Correct: They have been married since 2010.

Lastly, learners often struggle with the perfect tenses. You cannot say 'I am married since five years.' In English, you must use the present perfect: 'I have been married for five years.' Using the wrong tense here is a very common mistake that stems from translating directly from languages like French, Spanish, or German. Also, be careful with the word 'marry' when talking about who performed the ceremony. If you say 'The priest married them,' it means he conducted the ceremony. If you say 'The priest got married,' it means the priest himself found a partner and had a wedding! Misunderstanding this can lead to some very funny or confusing situations in conversation. Always clarify who the subject of the action is to avoid these pitfalls.

Incorrect: He get married yesterday. Correct: He got married yesterday.

Overusing 'Marry': Sometimes 'wedding' (noun) or 'wed' (formal verb) is more appropriate. 'The marry was beautiful' is wrong; it should be 'The wedding was beautiful.'

Incorrect: I will marry with a tall man. Correct: I will marry a tall man.

Incorrect: They marry for ten years. Correct: They have been married for ten years.

While 'marry' is the most common and versatile word for this concept, English offers several synonyms and related terms that carry different nuances of formality, emotion, or context. Understanding these alternatives will help you express yourself more precisely. For example, the verb 'wed' is much more formal and is often found in literature, newspapers, or formal invitations. You might see a headline like 'The Couple Wed in Private,' which sounds more poetic or journalistic than 'The Couple Married.' In casual speech, however, 'wed' is rarely used. Instead, people use idioms like 'tie the knot' or 'get hitched.' These are friendly, informal ways to say someone is getting married, perfect for talking with friends or family. They take the serious legal act and make it sound more celebratory and lighthearted.

Wed: A more formal or literary version of 'marry.' It is often used in the past participle form: 'the newly wedded couple.'
Tie the knot: An informal idiom. Example: 'They finally tied the knot after dating for a decade.'

The CEO hopes to unite the two departments by marrying their resources.

In a metaphorical sense, when 'marry' means to combine things, you might use words like 'blend,' 'fuse,' 'integrate,' or 'unite.' Each has a slightly different feel. 'Blend' suggests a smooth mixture (like flavors), 'fuse' suggests a permanent, intense joining (like metals or ideas), and 'integrate' suggests making something a part of a larger whole (like technology into a car). 'Marry' is unique because it implies that the combination creates a partnership where both parts remain important but are now linked. Another related term is 'espouse.' While 'espouse' can mean to marry, in modern English, it is almost always used to mean 'to support or adopt a cause or belief.' For example, 'She espouses the values of hard work.' It is important not to confuse this with the romantic 'marry' in modern conversation.

Get hitched: Very informal, often used in American English. It originally referred to hitching horses to a wagon.

They decided to walk down the aisle next spring.

In legal terms, you might hear the phrase 'enter into matrimony' or 'contract a marriage.' These are extremely formal and usually only used in legal documents or very traditional religious ceremonies. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if two people live together like a married couple but aren't legally married, we might say they are 'cohabiting' or in a 'common-law marriage.' While these aren't synonyms for the verb 'marry' itself, they are part of the same vocabulary family. Understanding the difference between 'marrying someone' and 'living with someone' is culturally and legally significant in English-speaking countries. Finally, 'take a spouse' is a somewhat old-fashioned way to say marry, occasionally found in older novels or very formal speech. By choosing the right synonym, you can control the tone of your sentence perfectly.

The architect's goal was to blend (marry) the building into the natural landscape.

Join in holy matrimony: The most religious and formal way to describe the act, usually spoken by a member of the clergy.

Are you ready to settle down and marry?

The merger will marry the two companies' strengths.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The Latin root 'maritus' (husband) is also related to the word 'mas' (male), though the verb now applies to all genders.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈmæri/

US /ˈmɛri/

The stress is on the first syllable: MAR-ry.

Rhymes With

berry cherry ferry merry perry terry very dairy

Common Errors

Pronouncing it like 'marie' (ma-REE), which is a name.
Not changing the sound enough between 'marry' and 'merry' in British English.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'marriage' (/ˈmærɪdʒ/).
Failing to pronounce the final 'ee' sound clearly.
Over-emphasizing the 'r' sound in non-rhotic accents.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in most texts.

Writing 3/5

Requires care with prepositions (no 'with').

Speaking 2/5

Very common and easy to pronounce.

Listening 2/5

Clear sound, but watch out for 'merry'/'Mary'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

love family friend wife husband

Learn Next

divorce engagement relationship anniversary spouse

Advanced

matrimony nuptials monogamy polygamy espouse

Grammar to Know

Transitive Verbs

You marry someone (no preposition).

Passive Voice with Prepositions

You are married TO someone.

Causative Verbs

The priest married the couple.

Spelling: Y to I

Marry becomes married or marriage.

Present Perfect for Duration

They have been married for five years.

Examples by Level

I want to marry you.

Je veux t'épouser.

Subject + want to + marry + object.

They marry in June.

Ils se marient en juin.

Present simple for a scheduled event.

Will you marry me?

Veux-tu m'épouser ?

A classic question form using 'will'.

My parents married in 1995.

Mes parents se sont mariés en 1995.

Past simple of 'marry' is 'married'.

He doesn't want to marry.

Il ne veut pas se marier.

Negative form using 'doesn't'.

She wants to marry a tall man.

Elle veut épouser un homme grand.

Transitive use with an object.

When will they marry?

Quand vont-ils se marier ?

Question form using 'when' and 'will'.

They plan to marry next year.

Ils prévoient de se marier l'année prochaine.

Infinitive after 'plan to'.

They are getting married tomorrow.

Ils se marient demain.

Present continuous for a fixed future arrangement.

He got married to his girlfriend last week.

Il s'est marié avec sa petite amie la semaine dernière.

Use 'to' with 'get married'.

She is married to a famous actor.

Elle est mariée à un acteur célèbre.

'Married' as an adjective describing a state.

They decided to marry in a small church.

Ils ont décidé de se marier dans une petite église.

Infinitive after 'decided to'.

He married his high school sweetheart.

Il a épousé son amour de jeunesse.

Active past tense without a preposition.

Why did they marry so young?

Pourquoi se sont-ils mariés si jeunes ?

Past simple question with 'did'.

I am not ready to marry yet.

Je ne suis pas encore prêt à me marier.

Negative state using 'not ready to'.

Are you going to marry him?

Vas-tu l'épouser ?

'Going to' for future intentions.

They have been married for twenty years.

Ils sont mariés depuis vingt ans.

Present perfect for a state that started in the past and continues.

If they marry now, they will save money on taxes.

S'ils se marient maintenant, ils économiseront sur les impôts.

First conditional sentence.

The priest who married them is a family friend.

Le prêtre qui les a mariés est un ami de la famille.

'Marry' meaning to perform the ceremony.

She was married to him for a short time.

Elle a été mariée avec lui pendant une courte période.

Past passive state.

They hope to marry before the baby is born.

Ils espèrent se marier avant la naissance du bébé.

Infinitive after 'hope to'.

He never married, choosing to live alone instead.

Il ne s'est jamais marié, choisissant de vivre seul à la place.

Intransitive use of 'marry'.

It is common to marry later in life these days.

Il est courant de se marier plus tard dans la vie de nos jours.

Impersonal 'it is' structure.

They were married by a judge in the city hall.

Ils ont été mariés par un juge à l'hôtel de ville.

Passive voice expressing who performed the ceremony.

The design marries traditional style with modern technology.

Le design allie le style traditionnel à la technologie moderne.

Metaphorical use meaning to combine harmoniously.

He married into a very wealthy family.

Il s'est marié dans une famille très riche.

Phrasal use 'marry into' meaning to become part of a family through marriage.

She managed to marry her love of art with her business skills.

Elle a réussi à concilier son amour de l'art avec ses compétences en affaires.

Metaphorical use with 'with'.

They were finally married after a long engagement.

Ils se sont enfin mariés après de longues fiançailles.

Passive construction focusing on the result.

The movie marries comedy and drama perfectly.

Le film mêle parfaitement comédie et drame.

Transitive metaphorical use.

He was the first to marry outside his community.

Il a été le premier à se marier en dehors de sa communauté.

Using 'to marry' as a subject complement.

The legal right to marry is a significant civil issue.

Le droit légal de se marier est une question civile importante.

Infinitive used as an adjective modifying 'right'.

She refused to marry the man her parents had chosen.

Elle a refusé d'épouser l'homme que ses parents avaient choisi.

Transitive use with a complex object.

The author successfully marries historical accuracy with a fast-paced plot.

L'auteur marie avec succès l'exactitude historique à une intrigue rythmée.

Sophisticated metaphorical use.

Having married young, they had to face many financial challenges together.

S'étant mariés jeunes, ils ont dû faire face à de nombreux défis financiers ensemble.

Perfect participle clause.

The ritual requires the elder to marry the couple in front of the tribe.

Le rituel exige que l'ancien marie le couple devant la tribu.

Causative/Official use in a cultural context.

To marry for love was once considered a radical idea in some social circles.

Se marier par amour était autrefois considéré comme une idée radicale dans certains cercles sociaux.

Infinitive phrase used as the subject.

The architecture marries the harshness of concrete with the warmth of wood.

L'architecture allie la rudesse du béton à la chaleur du bois.

Abstract transitive use.

He was accused of marrying her simply for her inheritance.

Il a été accusé de l'avoir épousée simplement pour son héritage.

Gerund after a preposition.

The two companies decided to marry their research departments to accelerate innovation.

Les deux entreprises ont décidé de fusionner leurs départements de recherche pour accélérer l'innovation.

Business metaphorical use.

Few people today marry with the expectation that it will last forever.

Peu de gens se marient aujourd'hui avec l'attente que cela durera éternellement.

Intransitive use with a prepositional phrase of manner.

Her poetry marries the sublime with the mundane in a startlingly original way.

Sa poésie allie le sublime au banal d'une manière étonnamment originale.

High-level literary metaphorical use.

The diplomat worked to marry the conflicting interests of the two nations.

Le diplomate s'est efforcé de concilier les intérêts conflictuels des deux nations.

Abstract usage in political context.

Whether one chooses to marry or remain single is a deeply personal decision.

Que l'on choisisse de se marier ou de rester célibataire est une décision profondément personnelle.

Infinitive in a noun clause.

The symphony marries traditional folk melodies with complex avant-garde structures.

La symphonie marie des mélodies folkloriques traditionnelles à des structures d'avant-garde complexes.

Artistic metaphorical use.

In his later years, he sought to marry his scientific findings with his spiritual beliefs.

Dans ses dernières années, il a cherché à concilier ses découvertes scientifiques avec ses convictions spirituelles.

Abstract union of concepts.

The legal definition of who can marry has evolved significantly over the last century.

La définition légale de qui peut se marier a considérablement évolué au cours du siècle dernier.

Relative clause with 'who'.

She felt that to marry him would be to betray her own principles.

Elle sentait que l'épouser reviendrait à trahir ses propres principes.

Infinitive used as a subject and a complement.

The project marries the efficiency of AI with the creativity of human designers.

Le projet allie l'efficacité de l'IA à la créativité des designers humains.

Modern professional metaphorical use.

Common Collocations

marry young

marry for love

marry into money

get married

happily married

legally married

marry a soulmate

civilly married

secretly marry

plan to marry

Common Phrases

Will you marry me?

— The standard way to propose marriage to someone.

He got down on one knee and asked, 'Will you marry me?'

Just married

— A phrase used by couples who have very recently had their wedding.

They had a 'Just Married' sign on the back of their car.

Marry in haste, repent at leisure

— A proverb warning that if you marry too quickly, you will regret it for a long time.

They only met a month ago; marry in haste, repent at leisure.

Married to the job

— An idiom describing someone who spends all their time and energy on their work.

He has no social life because he is married to the job.

Marry into the family

— To become a member of a family by marrying one of its members.

It can be difficult to marry into such a traditional family.

To be married to someone

— The state of being in a marriage with a specific person.

She has been married to her husband for ten years.

Get married to

— The act of entering into a marriage with someone.

He is getting married to his best friend.

Marry well

— To marry someone who is wealthy or from a high social class.

In the 19th century, it was very important for women to marry well.

Marry someone off

— To find a husband or wife for someone, usually one's child.

The king wanted to marry off his daughters to form alliances.

Never marry

— To choose to remain single throughout one's life.

She decided she would never marry and focus on her career.

Often Confused With

marry vs merry

Sounds the same in some accents but means happy/cheerful.

marry vs Mary

A common name that sounds the same in some American accents.

marry vs marriage

The noun form (the institution), while 'marry' is the action.

Idioms & Expressions

"Tie the knot"

— To get married.

They are going to tie the knot this summer.

informal

"Get hitched"

— To get married.

Did you hear that Pete and Sue got hitched?

informal

"Walk down the aisle"

— To get married, referring to the walk in a church.

She isn't ready to walk down the aisle yet.

neutral

"Pop the question"

— To propose marriage.

He's planning to pop the question on her birthday.

informal

"Marry into money"

— To marry someone who is very rich.

He didn't work a day in his life after marrying into money.

neutral

"Married to the job"

— Being very dedicated to work, often neglecting personal life.

Don't expect to see him often; he's married to the job.

informal

"Shotgun wedding"

— A wedding that is forced or hurried, often due to pregnancy.

It was a shotgun wedding, but they are still together 20 years later.

informal

"Settle down"

— To start living a quiet, stable life, often by getting married.

He's finally ready to settle down and marry.

neutral

"Lead someone to the altar"

— To marry someone.

He finally led her to the altar after five years of dating.

literary

"Join hands"

— Can be a metaphor for getting married or working together.

The two families joined hands through the marriage of their children.

formal

Easily Confused

marry vs wedding

Both relate to marriage.

'Wedding' is the noun for the ceremony; 'marry' is the verb for the act.

The wedding was beautiful, and they were happy to marry.

marry vs espouse

Formal synonym.

'Espouse' usually means to support a cause or belief now, rarely used for weddings.

He espouses environmental causes but doesn't want to marry.

marry vs propose

Happens before marrying.

'Propose' is asking; 'marry' is the actual union.

He proposed in May, and they will marry in December.

marry vs engage

Related state.

'Engaged' means promising to marry; 'marry' is the act itself.

They were engaged for a year before they married.

marry vs unite

General term for joining.

'Unite' is broader; 'marry' is specific to spouses or harmonious blending.

The leader tried to unite the people, while the couple wanted to marry.

Sentence Patterns

Subject + want to marry + someone

I want to marry her.

Subject + get married + (to someone)

They got married last year.

Subject + have been married + for/since

They have been married for a long time.

Official + marry + couple

The judge married them at the courthouse.

Subject + marry + quality A + with + quality B

The chef marries spice with sweetness.

Having married + adjective, Subject + verb

Having married young, they traveled the world.

To marry + someone + is + adjective

To marry him is my greatest dream.

Subject + marry + into + noun

She married into a royal family.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Very high; it is a core English verb.

Common Mistakes

I married with her. → I married her.
'Marry' is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'with'.
She is married with a doctor. → She is married to a doctor.
When describing the state of being married, use the preposition 'to'.
They want to marriage. → They want to marry.
'Marriage' is a noun; 'marry' is the verb needed after 'want to'.
He get married yesterday. → He got married yesterday.
The past tense of the phrase 'get married' is 'got married'.
I am married since 2010. → I have been married since 2010.
Use the present perfect tense to describe a state that started in the past and continues.

Tips

No Preposition

Don't say 'marry with.' Just say 'marry [person].' It's the most common mistake!

Noun vs Verb

Use 'marriage' for the institution and 'marry' for the action. 'They have a good marriage' vs 'They will marry.'

Metaphorical Use

Use 'marry' in your writing to describe how two ideas fit together perfectly. It sounds very professional.

Conversational Tone

Say 'get married' when talking to friends. It sounds more natural than 'I will marry' in a casual chat.

The 'I' Rule

Remember: marry -> married, marriage. The 'y' always changes to 'i' in these forms.

Proposals

The phrase 'Will you marry me?' is iconic. Use it if you are writing a romantic story or scene.

Context Clues

If you hear 'married to,' it's describing who someone's partner is. If you hear 'married by,' it's about the official.

Tie the Knot

This is a great idiom to use to sound more like a native speaker when talking about weddings.

Syllable Stress

Always stress the first syllable: MAR-ry. This makes the word clear and easy to understand.

Abstract Union

Don't be afraid to use 'marry' for non-romantic things, like 'marrying comfort with style' in a product review.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'M-A-R-R-Y' as 'Making A Real Relationship Yours.'

Visual Association

Imagine two gold rings interlocking to form the letter 'M' for marry.

Word Web

wedding spouse love contract rings vows family together

Challenge

Try to use 'marry' in three different ways: romantically, as an official, and metaphorically.

Word Origin

The word 'marry' comes from the Old French word 'marier,' which in turn comes from the Latin 'maritare.'

Original meaning: In Latin, 'maritare' meant to provide with a husband or wife, or to wed.

It is part of the Romance language influence on English following the Norman Conquest.

Cultural Context

Be aware that marriage customs vary globally; avoid assuming everyone wants to marry or that all marriages are the same.

Marriage is both a legal contract and a social celebration. Legal 'civil ceremonies' are just as valid as religious ones.

The proposal in 'Pride and Prejudice' The song 'Marry You' by Bruno Mars The TV show 'Married... with Children'

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Weddings

exchange vows
walk down the aisle
best man
maid of honor

Legal

marriage license
civil union
prenuptial agreement
spouse

Abstract/Design

marry form and function
perfect blend
seamless integration
unite concepts

Family History

married for 50 years
great-grandparents
family tree
ancestors

Proposals

get down on one knee
propose
engagement ring
say yes

Conversation Starters

"At what age do people usually marry in your country?"

"Do you think it's better to marry young or wait until you're older?"

"What are some traditional reasons why people choose to marry?"

"If you could marry anywhere in the world, where would it be?"

"How does the concept of 'marrying' two ideas apply to your job or hobby?"

Journal Prompts

Describe what you think a perfect wedding would look like if you chose to marry today.

Write about a time you saw someone 'marry' two different skills or hobbies successfully.

Do you think the legal right to marry is important for everyone? Why or why not?

Reflect on the phrase 'marry in haste, repent at leisure.' Do you agree with it?

Write a fictional story about two people who decide to marry after only knowing each other for a day.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

In the active voice, you use neither: 'He married her.' In the passive voice (describing a state), you use 'to': 'He is married to her.' Never use 'with'!

The past tense is 'married.' Remember to change the 'y' to an 'i' before adding 'ed'.

Yes, in many English-speaking countries and legal systems, 'marry' is a gender-neutral verb used for any two people entering a legal union.

It means to marry someone who is wealthy, thereby becoming part of a rich family and gaining access to their wealth.

It is a neutral, standard word. 'Wed' is more formal, while 'get hitched' or 'tie the knot' are informal.

Yes, but it's usually used for the future: 'I am marrying him next month.' To describe your current status, say 'I am married.'

It means to combine two things, like departments, companies, or strategies, so they work together perfectly.

Yes, it follows the regular pattern of adding 'ed' for the past tense, though the spelling change (y to i) is important.

'Marry' is the verb for the action (often with an object). 'Get married' is a common phrase used to describe the event of the wedding itself.

The standard phrase is 'Will you marry me?' It is almost always used in this exact form.