ceilidh

variants also ceili
Scottish & Irish

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ceilidh 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 night concluded with a ceilidh hosted by Amber’s music school friends, the Haggis Chasers. Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2024 The night concluded with a ceilidh hosted by Amber’s music school friends, the Haggis Chasers. Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2024 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 The wedding featured three musical moments in total: Italian jazz, followed by a ceilidh band, and then an ’80s and ’90s disco by DJ Henri, which had everyone dancing past 3 a.m. Emma Elwick-Bates, Vogue, 28 June 2022 She’s a member of the Irish American Club and a traditional Irish ceilidh dancer. Elissa Welle, Detroit Free Press, 9 Feb. 2022 But later in the episode, while attending a traditional Scottish ceilidh — think of the Gatherings featured on Outlander — at Borthwick Castle, McTavish and his hips are given their rightful time to shine. Sarene Leeds, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceilidh
Noun
  • So were their listeners, who learned of the jam sessions through word-of-mouth and sat on the lawn.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2025
  • But, initially, a lot of that music developed out of longer instrumental jam sessions.
    Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • Reactions to the sudden move varied: Those in the community who considered the festival a nuisance were relieved.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025
  • The festival was founded 53 years ago, M Live reports.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • And the jam—of course, the jam: the product As ever is perhaps most known for is back, but not in the raspberry flavor that was sold in April.
    Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Products in As ever’s first ever drop included flower sprinkles, cookies, jam and more.
    Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 20 June 2025
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
  • Her choice for the cathedral recital: three of the five movements from French composer Charles-Marie Widor’s Symphony No. 5.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
  • Two people were shot inside a historic Alabama theater during a children's dance recital, and one person has turned himself in, according to local police.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 2 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ceilidh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceilidh. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ceilidh

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!