as in dinners
a large fancy meal often accompanied by ceremony or entertainment
prepared a celebratory banquet for the graduating class
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Recent Examples of banquets
Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
In various regions, some Muslims worry that the month is getting commercialized, and say an emphasis on decorations, TV shows, outings or lavish iftar banquets can detract from Ramadan’s religious essence.
—Mariam Fam, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Our timetable promised close-up encounters with Shakespeare’s Folio and Kafka’s manuscripts, art classes, classical recitals, after-hours banquets in museums.
—Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club celebrates with fireworks, talent shows, banquets and performances leading up to, and after, the prediction.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
According to the sources, welcome ceremonies, banquets and other events are under consideration in both countries for a trip that is expected to last between 10 to 14 days.
—Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
The word American reverberated throughout that evening at the Commodore, and continued at banquets as Robinson crisscrossed the country, the word hero rarely far from his name.
—Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Players for years have attended banquets and participated in activities (like arcades and bowling) while also giving back to the community (like visiting children’s hospitals) during bowl week.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
The future queen has now worn the headpiece 11 times, including at least six state banquets.
—Elle Meier, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Noun
Over the years, the Hoffs have hosted family reunions, team banquets, chili cookouts and dozens of other outdoor gatherings.
—Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
In various regions, some Muslims worry that the month is getting commercialized, and say an emphasis on decorations, TV shows, outings or lavish iftar banquets can detract from Ramadan’s religious essence.
—Mariam Fam, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Our timetable promised close-up encounters with Shakespeare’s Folio and Kafka’s manuscripts, art classes, classical recitals, after-hours banquets in museums.
—Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club celebrates with fireworks, talent shows, banquets and performances leading up to, and after, the prediction.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
According to the sources, welcome ceremonies, banquets and other events are under consideration in both countries for a trip that is expected to last between 10 to 14 days.
—Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
The word American reverberated throughout that evening at the Commodore, and continued at banquets as Robinson crisscrossed the country, the word hero rarely far from his name.
—Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Players for years have attended banquets and participated in activities (like arcades and bowling) while also giving back to the community (like visiting children’s hospitals) during bowl week.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025
The future queen has now worn the headpiece 11 times, including at least six state banquets.
—Elle Meier, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banquets
Noun
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Get ocean views and seafood dinners at area waterfront restaurants, or go for a casual taco or bowl dinner.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
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There was a long, luxuriant lunch at Suginome, one of the city's oldest ryōtei, a genre of restaurant that, not so long ago, offered entertainment by geisha and private rooms where businessmen and politicians made deals over elaborate dinners.—
Alex Halberstadt,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Well, Sydney feasts a little bit at the end.—
Claire Messud,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Under the supervision of architect Takashi Imazato, the Tokyo property was reborn in 2019 as a boutique hotel that honors its apartment-era DNA while layering in a refined, contemporary Japanese aesthetic.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
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Practice a script that protects your needs and honors your generous spirit.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Handsome Belgian executive Geert (Arieh Worthalter) regales an enthusiastic crowd with a yarn, while his mousy tech head Luc (Jan Hammenecker) demonstrates to what might be the world’s first speech-to-text technology.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
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Ninny regales Evelyn with tales of Idgi, her sister-in-law and friend who used to run the Whistle Stop Cafe, a restaurant on the outskirts of Birmingham, Alabama, that served good coffee, better barbecue, and great gossip.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Astronomers are particularly interested in the zone’s chemistry because its gas feeds into the matter from which stars grow.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
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Ayton scored 13 points in the second quarter, with Doncic and Reaves both sending alley-oop feeds his way for a pair of dunks.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Khabouth, who has met Bichette, says that roughly half the team regularly dines at Animl, which sits just a block and a half from the stadium, often stopping by after games.—
Denny Alfonso,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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As the director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, in Avondale, Maynard often dines in neighborhoods close to work, including Northside and Clifton.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Banquets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banquets. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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