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 The mini treats come in four flavors and each is decked out in festive colors and details. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 Celebrate this Fourth of July with no fuss fanfare by putting a festive spin on everyday items. Kit Selzer, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024 Room Essentials Figural Flower Snack Bowl Buy on Target $3 Your candy eggs, jelly beans, or marshmallow Peeps need a festive home, and this blooming flower bowl is it. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 However, the company covered their transportation, lodging and meals, including a festive dinner at the Bazaar by José Andrés, a restaurant in the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Yiwen Lu, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Cat Ladybug Hummingbird Celtic Knot Shamrock Earrings $29.99 Wear these Cat Ladybug Hummingbird Celtic Knot Shamrock Earrings for an easy way to update your festive look. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2024 Enjoy live music with acoustic duo The Next Best Thing, performances by the McGing Irish Dancers, festive swag, photo ops, balloon twisting, face painting, crafts, and food and beverage specials from select Levee restaurants. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2024 In March 2020, Valley Fair unveiled the first phase of a $1.1 billion mall expansion in an event that was festive yet tinged with uncertainty, because that was the same month the coronavirus outbreak was beginning to visibly rock the worldwide economy. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 Join the Knights of Columbus for a festive evening of Irish traditions, delicious food and great company. Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'festive.' 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

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 29 Mar. 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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