convivial
adjective
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Convivial is a cheerful word that typically suggests a mood of full-bellied delight in good food, good drink, and good company, which Charles Dickens aptly captures in his novel David Copperfield: "We had a beautiful little dinner. Quite an elegant dish of fish; the kidney-end of a loin of veal, roasted; fried sausage-meat; a partridge, and a pudding. There was wine, and there was strong ale. ... Mr. Micawber was uncommonly convivial. I never saw him such good company. He made his face shine with the punch, so that it looked as if it had been varnished all over. He got cheerfully sentimental about the town, and proposed success to it." Convivial traces back to the Latin word convivium, meaning "banquet," which in turn comes from the verb vivere, meaning "to live." The word is in good company, as vivere has breathed plenty of life into the English language; other common descendants include survive, revive, vivid, and vivacious.
Examples of convivial in a Sentence
Kim Westerman, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The rate includes seven meals, served in the convivial restaurant carriage, that showcase local ingredients and wines.
—Alesandra Dubin, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025
Not all episodes are so convivial.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
In fact, natural is the word to sum up Chapman, a host who, like Artie Bucco, could be described as warm and convivial, who rarely fails to ask piercing questions devoid of cliches and has a relaxed but authoritative style.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for convivial
Cite this Entry
“Convivial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convivial. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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