as in celebrations
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something
year-long festivities will mark the 300th anniversary of the city's founding
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of festivities
The reopening festivities came together in just a couple months’ time, with a marketing campaign that Trotter acknowledges did not generate much hype in advance.
—
Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
While the focus is on helping singles find their match, couples are welcome to enjoy the festivities and help support their single friends.
—Charlie Vargas, Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
Netflix and Intel kicked off the festivities this week.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
While technically hosted in Santa Clara at Levi's Stadium, the energy of this massive global sporting event radiates throughout the entire Bay Area, making San Francisco the central hub for festivities, parties, and fan experiences.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Not surprising from the woman whose primary job as mayor of Salem for 17 years was to organize Halloween festivities every fall.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Police officers seeking to thwart the getaway are impeded by the festivities of the Puerto Rican Day parade, which features a sublime performance by the salsa great Eddie Palmieri (who died earlier this month, at the age of eighty-eight).
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Selecting a location like the Hamptons in peak season might mean some guests will need to pay a high premium to attend a full wedding weekend and may end up bowing out of the festivities.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
Rather than the usual palace ballroom festivities, Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter held a birthday bash in the Britannia’s state dining room (per Reader’s Digest).
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
While the focus is on helping singles find their match, couples are welcome to enjoy the festivities and help support their single friends.
—Charlie Vargas, Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
Netflix and Intel kicked off the festivities this week.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
While technically hosted in Santa Clara at Levi's Stadium, the energy of this massive global sporting event radiates throughout the entire Bay Area, making San Francisco the central hub for festivities, parties, and fan experiences.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Not surprising from the woman whose primary job as mayor of Salem for 17 years was to organize Halloween festivities every fall.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Police officers seeking to thwart the getaway are impeded by the festivities of the Puerto Rican Day parade, which features a sublime performance by the salsa great Eddie Palmieri (who died earlier this month, at the age of eighty-eight).
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Selecting a location like the Hamptons in peak season might mean some guests will need to pay a high premium to attend a full wedding weekend and may end up bowing out of the festivities.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
Rather than the usual palace ballroom festivities, Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter held a birthday bash in the Britannia’s state dining room (per Reader’s Digest).
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festivities
Noun
-
Vince Young Steakhouse closed Sunday after 15 years in downtown Austin, ending the run of a restaurant that became a fixture for business dinners, celebrations and convention traffic.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
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Young Miko has officially joined the celebrations of the 2026 Super Bowl.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Visit the chestnut, prosciutto and truffle festivals.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Contemporary galleries like Canyon Road Contemporary Art, Edition One Gallery, and GF Contemporary, all of which are women-owned, add to the mix, highlighting innovative art from around the world and presenting an exciting calendar of art exhibitions, festivals, and shows.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Festivities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festivities. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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