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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In New Delhi, travelers are presented with a cultural feast of ancient forts, bazaars, and dynamic cuisine, while Kuala Lumpur dazzles with its sky-high towers and rich multicultural heritage. John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025 Every year, the Fourth of July brings about a feast of cheeseburgers, hot dogs and potato salad at many family cookouts. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Verb
Millions of periodical cicadas bide their time, feasting on tree roots and counting the years. Sarah Henry, The Courier-Journal, 8 July 2025 Around those tables sat families feasting on pizzas, lasagna and chicken parmesan. Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for feast

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Feast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feast. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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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