festive

adjective

fes·​tive ˈfe-stiv How to pronounce festive (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival
a festive occasion
The house looks festive during the holidays.
2
: joyful, gay
a festive mood
festively adverb
festiveness noun

Examples of festive in a Sentence

The house looks very festive during the holidays. She was in a festive mood. The reunion will be a festive occasion.
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.
This year, Sun Valley is hosting three festive dining experiences. Roger Sands, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024 Want to join in the festive fun (and enjoy highs in the 60s?!)? Heather Bien, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024 Tabletop trees offer a way to bring in festive cheer on a smaller scale and make for great secondary trees. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2024 The black comedy, which previously won the Horizons sidebar at the Venice Film Festival, is set in 1989 during the festive season that immediately precedes the downfall of the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. John Bleasdale, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for festive 

Word History

Etymology

Latin festivus, from festum

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of festive was in 1613

Dictionary Entries Near festive

Cite this Entry

“Festive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/festive. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

festive

adjective
fes·​tive ˈfes-tiv How to pronounce festive (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival
2
festively adverb
festiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on festive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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