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
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 As Red Lobster fans wait for their chance to win a feast, Chansiri, Thai Union’s chief executive, has no plans to indulge in the delicacy of the sea. John Towfighi, CNN, 21 Feb. 2024 While the holiday originated as a Christian feast day and evolved to celebrate romantic love — and to sell you things — for me, Valentine’s Day always reminds me of my mom. Tyler Renner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2024 On her Tuesday afternoon trip, the orcas seem already satisfied with their morning feast. Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Research has found that healthy gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus feast on dark chocolate. Selene Yeager, Health, 24 Feb. 2024 Starting February 20 and while supplies last, 150 winners will have a chance to enjoy Red Lobster’s free feast. John Towfighi, CNN, 21 Feb. 2024
Verb
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 Instead, hundreds of feral dogs ran through the dump in packs, feasting. Meera Subramanian, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2024 Once the acacia ants are gone, the elephants feast. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024 Round up the homies or roll solo to feast your senses on the city’s offerings. Kamren Curiel, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024 Junior Dylan Sander was able to feast from the paint while his teammates shot the ball well from beyond the arc, extending defenders up by a step or two. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024 Take Selena Gomez, who was in Paris this weekend, living it up in front of the Eiffel Tower and feasting on croissants. Georgia Day, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2024 From roughly June to September, whale sharks gather in abundance across the region to feast on tiny fish eggs, with tourists traveling beyond the shores of Isla Mujeres to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 12 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 19 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

More from Merriam-Webster on feast

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!