feast

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: an elaborate and usually abundant meal often accompanied by a ceremony or entertainment : banquet
b(1)
: something that gives unusual or abundant enjoyment
a visual feast
(2)
: abundance, profusion
an unprecedented feast of corruption, gargantuan in scaleNeil Sheehan
2
: a periodic religious observance commemorating an event or honoring a deity, person, or thing

feast

2 of 2

verb

feasted; feasting; feasts

intransitive verb

1
: to take part in a feast
2
: to enjoy some unusual pleasure or delight

transitive verb

1
: to give a feast for
2
: delight, gratify
feasting our eyes on the scenery
feaster noun

Examples of feast in a Sentence

Noun give the annual Thanksgiving feast Every guest brought a different dish to the party, and we had quite a feast. There were hundreds of guests at the royal wedding feast. the feast of the Nativity Verb the returning war heroes were feasted all over the country feast your eyes on all the fresh flowers at the farmers' market
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Bach's full Christmas Oratorio is a collection of six cantatas, each for a specific feast day during the holiday period. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2024 That means folks across the South are getting ready for spring cleaning, planning Easter feasts, taking spring break trips to Galveston (or Myrtle Beach or St. Augustine) and searching for the recipe for Oven-Roasted Corn On The Cob. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2024 The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they’re told by the scientists. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024 The start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan usually brings a time of religious devotion, dawn-to-dusk fasting, family gatherings and nightly feasts. Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 When the feast was presented, lavish platters of meat and rice filled the table. G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 The feast day included a shot of whiskey at The Turf pub in Wrexham with actor Rob McElhenney, who bought the Wrexham soccer team with Ryan Reynolds in 2021, and a sweet visit to a school. Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 In Ireland, he's celebrated with religious services and feasts. Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 In a country known for wedding spectacles, the pre-nuptial extravaganza for Anant Ambani will not only stand out for its sumptuous feasts and grandeur, but also as a testimony to Ambani’s deepening hold over many areas of the Indian economy. Anto Antony, Fortune Asia, 1 Mar. 2024
Verb
Yoong and about 100 other dog-pushers were confined in a ramshackle complex of stilted, timber shacks with thatch roofs, which became their home for a month, subsisting on two daily meals of rice and vegetables while being feasted upon by mosquitos and assorted beasties. TIME, 21 Mar. 2024 Scorpions feast on spiders, other scorpions, cockroaches and other small prey. Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 16 Mar. 2024 Fake eyelashes can sometimes lead mites to come and feast because (a) people sometimes avoid cleansing their eyes to prolong the life of their extensions and (b) extra adhesive around the lash line can trap bacteria and debris. Ali Finney, SELF, 15 Mar. 2024 Additionally, the Nuggets supporting cast has feasted with the defense focused on Murray and Jokic. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 In California in the early 1960s, survivors from around Big Sur recolonized Monterey Bay, feasting on urchins that eat kelp and revitalizing the kelp forest. David Helvarg, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 Some expressed concern about his ability to survive in the big city, but Flaco feasted on abundant prey, the zoo said. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2024 The rare find provides new context about life in Roman Britain. — A dead star that feasted on a planet once in its orbit could foretell the eventual fate of our own solar system. — Scientists have identified one reason why invasive Jorō spiders are spreading throughout United States. Katie Hunt, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024 Keesha learns to manipulate her identity for personal advancement, becoming a kind of predator who feasts on the Allwhite writer’s indulgence. Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'feast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English feste, from Anglo-French, from Latin festa, plural of festum festival, from neuter of festus solemn, festal; akin to Latin feriae holidays, fanum temple

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of feast was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near feast

Cite this Entry

“Feast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feast. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

feast

1 of 2 noun
1
: a meal with plenty of food and drink : banquet
2
: a religious festival or observance

feast

2 of 2 verb
1
: to eat plentifully : take part in a feast
2
: to entertain with a feast
3
: delight entry 2 sense 2
feast your eyes on the view
feaster noun
Etymology

Noun

Middle English feste "feast, festival," from early French feste (same meaning), from Latin festa, plural of festum "festival, feast" — related to festival, fiesta

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