To marry means to join with another person in marriage, becoming spouses. When two people marry, they make a formal, public commitment to build a life together. They usually have a wedding ceremony where they exchange vows and rings in front of family and friends, then sign legal documents making their union official.

Marriage creates a new family unit. After people marry, they're called married or sometimes newlyweds if they just got married. The ceremony itself is called a wedding, while the lasting relationship is the marriage.

Throughout history and across cultures, marriage has been one of society's most important institutions. In many places, married couples gain legal rights like making medical decisions for each other, inheriting property, or filing taxes together. Traditional wedding vows often include promises like “for better or worse” and “in sickness and in health,” reflecting marriage as a serious, lifelong commitment.

People marry for many reasons: love, companionship, wanting to raise children together, or following religious and cultural traditions. While the specific customs vary widely (some cultures have elaborate multi-day celebrations, others keep it simple), the core idea remains the same: two people publicly pledging to share their lives.