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

Just a little advance planning and plenty of time to focus on sweet potatoes, apple pie, and the rest of your Thanksgiving feast. — Alton Brown, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026

Nominally this was a Christian feast day of Saint Brigid, patron saint of poetry and lambing, who was said to have lived in Ireland in the late fifth century. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026

Verb

Galland embellished his ghouls with new characteristics not found in the original Arabic, chiefly the macabre practice of digging up graves to feast on human flesh. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026

My favorite time to visit is in late summer and fall, when migratory birds converge on the lake to feast on its abundant brine shrimp and alkali flies. — Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 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