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festive

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adjective fes·tive \ˈfe-stiv\

Definition of festive

  1. 1 :  of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival a festive occasion The house looks festive during the holidays.

  2. 2 :  joyful, gay a festive mood

festively

adverb

festiveness

noun

See festive defined for English-language learners

See festive defined for kids

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Examples of festive in a Sentence

  1. The house looks very festive during the holidays.

  2. She was in a festive mood.

  3. The reunion will be a festive occasion.

Origin and Etymology of festive

Latin festivus, from festum


First Known Use: 1613

festive Synonyms

Synonyms
blithesome, merry, gay, gleeful, jocose, jocular, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mirthful, sunny
Related Words
amused, beaming, chuckling, giggling, smiling; bright, buoyant, carefree, cheerful, cheery, chipper, lighthearted, lightsome, upbeat; animated, bouncing, frisky, jaunty, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious, zippy; blessed (also blest), blissful, delighted, ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, exuberant, exultant, gladsome, happy, high, joyful, joyous, jubilant, overjoyed, radiant, rapturous, ravished, thrilled, tickled; amusing, facetious, flippant, frolicsome, funny, hilarious, jesting, joking, joshing, playful, sportive, witty; cavalier, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, unconcerned; hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine; antic, comic, comical, farcical, humorous, riotous, sidesplitting, uproarious
Near Antonyms
abject, aggrieved, anguished, blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, glum, heartbroken, heartsick, heavyhearted, low-spirited, melancholy, sad, saddened, sorrowful, unhappy; crying, groaning, moaning, sobbing, wailing, weeping; discontented, disgruntled, moody; doleful, dolorous, joyless, lachrymose, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, sorry, woeful; black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, gloomy, glum, gray (also grey), morose, saturnine, somber (or sombre), sullen; miserable, woebegone, wretched; dull, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid

FESTIVE Defined for English Language Learners

festive

play
adjective fes·tive \ˈfe-stiv\

Definition of festive for English Language Learners

  • : cheerful and exciting : suited to a celebration or holiday

  • : of or relating to Christmas

FESTIVE Defined for Kids

festive

play
adjective fes·tive \ˈfe-stiv\

Definition of festive for Students

  1. 1 :  having to do with a feast or festival

  2. 2 :  very merry and joyful festive decorations

Learn More about festive

  1. See words that rhyme with festive Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for festive Spanish Central: Translation of festive Nglish: Translation of festive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of festive for Arabic speakers

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Examples: festive in a Sentence