variants
also ceili
as in sing
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Recent Examples of ceilidh
This evolved into a new wave of ceilidh pride — from rural Scots to the diaspora in New York and Melbourne — with TikTok users reimagining traditional dance culture through a modern electronic lens.
—
Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Apparently the best and prettiest dancer gets chosen, but the only thing Ellen really cares about is that Brian also makes his way into the ceilidh and winds up her temporary partner during the group dance.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 29 Aug. 2025
Dancing The Irish Network hosts its annual ceili (dance) from 4 to 7pm Sunday at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter.
—Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025
The Scotland episode sandwiches the synagogue moment with Levy standing in an ornate castle doing Sean Connery impressions, visiting a tailor to custom-make a kilt, and at a ceilidh, dancing in a kilt and making jokes about the ventilation.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2024
Make sure to grab a wee dram at The Malt Room, Inverness’ first whisky bar, followed by Hootananny, a ceilidh cafe for live traditional Scottish folk music (even Mumford and Sons have played here).
—Marisel Salazar, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Dec. 2022
Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Apparently the best and prettiest dancer gets chosen, but the only thing Ellen really cares about is that Brian also makes his way into the ceilidh and winds up her temporary partner during the group dance.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 29 Aug. 2025
Dancing The Irish Network hosts its annual ceili (dance) from 4 to 7pm Sunday at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter.
—Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025
The Scotland episode sandwiches the synagogue moment with Levy standing in an ornate castle doing Sean Connery impressions, visiting a tailor to custom-make a kilt, and at a ceilidh, dancing in a kilt and making jokes about the ventilation.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2024
Make sure to grab a wee dram at The Malt Room, Inverness’ first whisky bar, followed by Hootananny, a ceilidh cafe for live traditional Scottish folk music (even Mumford and Sons have played here).
—Marisel Salazar, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Dec. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceilidh
Noun
-
In Toad’s smaller Lilly’s Pad area, there is an extended jam session featuring songs by Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath in honor of Osbourne’s death last year.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 Jan. 2026
-
The actor shared shots of him and Tatum, a clip of a cast jam session and a mirror selfie from his makeup chair.—
Ilana Frost,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The park behind the festival may or may not be open for ice climbing, and there will be no on-ice clinics.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Last year, Bobby Flay and Brooke Williamson — who went public with their relationship a couple months prior — were spotted together at the festival before separately taking the stage for culinary demonstrations.—
Melody Chiu,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In place of tomato sauce, pesto, or olive oil, use onion jam as your base.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
12 Jan. 2026
-
His father, who played in a party band, occasionally invited him to rehearsals, where Kwasniewski-Kelvin, then 12, would solo over the group’s blues and pop jams.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The church annually has a songfest following Dec. 25, which actually begins the Christmas season, but this one will honor the Rev. Wally Hyclak, who is retiring Jan. 1.—
cleveland,
cleveland,
13 Dec. 2019
-
The songfest began with the women introducing themselves by singing out their names.—
Dennis Hohenberger,
Courant Community,
29 May 2018
Noun
-
According to TVLine, one of the items in the backpack was a drawing of Ava at her first-grade recital, proving that Roman had been watching his family from afar.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Carly had been awarded honorable mention in the spring American Protégé International Music Talent Competition and was invited to play in a recital program at Carnegie.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ceilidh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceilidh. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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