feast

1 of 2

noun

ˈfēst 

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 scale.

—Neil 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

Synonyms of feast

Noun

• dinner
• banquet

Verb

• regale
• banquet
• honor
• feed
• dine

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

Grab a table at the Caya restaurant and order fish tacos, an ahi tuna poke bowl, or bucatini all'Amatriciana for an eclectic feast. —Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 23 June 2026

Aemond promises to throw a feast in his mother's honor at Harrenhal Castle with Daemon's head looking on from a pike. —Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 22 June 2026

Verb

Growing the right companion plants near milkweed can entice ladybugs, lacewings, and other beneficial insects to visit and feast on aphids. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026

Consider transplanting smaller plants farther away so that feasting birds will leave their messy droppings elsewhere. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026

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

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

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

Phrases Containing feast

• a feast for the eyes
• feast one's eyes on
• love feast
• movable feast

Rhymes for feast

• beast
• ceased
• creased
• east
• fleeced
• geest
• greased
• leased
• least
• pieced
• priest
• yeast

Kids Definition

feast

1 of 2 noun

ˈfēst 

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