officiate
Lead a ceremony
To officiate is to perform official duties, especially to preside over a ceremony or sporting event.
A judge officiates at a wedding, a priest officiates at a funeral, a referee officiates a basketball game.
The word carries formal weight—you don't officiate casual gatherings.
Who's officiating the ceremony?
She's been officiating NFL games for fifteen years.
Marriage rite and feast
- vowsSolemn binding promises
- altarSacred ritual table
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
solemnize · matrimony · nuptials · sacrament · benediction · liturgy · eulogy · consecration
Sports rule enforcer
- umpireSports match official
- whistleShrill air-blown sounder
- foulOffensive or illegal
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
linesman · red card · yellow card · offside · timekeeper · ejection · infraction · technical
Lead a formal gathering
- administerManage or dispense
- overseeManage and direct
- manageDirect or handle successfully
- directUndeviating or to guide
facilitate · coordinate · moderate · supervise · execute · lead · chair · run
Formally decide a dispute
- verdictOfficial court decision
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- tribunalJudicial decision-making body
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
ruling · decree · bench · justice · deliberation · injunction · hearing · preside
wedding
Marriage rite and feast
- vowsSolemn binding promises
- altarSacred ritual table
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
ritual · solemnize · matrimony · nuptials · sacrament · benediction · liturgy · eulogy · consecration · baptism
referee
Sports rule enforcer
penalty · linesman · red card · yellow card · offside · timekeeper · ejection · infraction · technical · free throw
preside
Lead a formal gathering
- administerManage or dispense
- overseeManage and direct
- manageDirect or handle successfully
direct · facilitate · coordinate · moderate · supervise · execute · lead · chair · run · host
adjudicate
Formally decide a dispute
- verdictOfficial court decision
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- tribunalJudicial decision-making body
arbitration · ruling · decree · bench · justice · deliberation · injunction · hearing · preside · judgment
- weddingwedding, wedding ring, marry, wedding ceremony, wedding rings
- leadership verbslead, command, direct, manage, supervise
- worship verbspray, bless, anoint, baptize, consecrate
- elected officialsLeaders chosen by vote
- public officialsGovernment position holders
- government officialState-employed administrator
- wedding officiantLeads marriage ceremonies
- official documentsVerified governmental or institutional papers
- official rulesCodified governing standards
official, unofficial, officially, officials, unofficially, officialdom, officiating, officiant, officiated