1
2
as in celebration
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

3

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 festivity The evening’s festivities turned out to be lively on their own. C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 15 May 2025 For the latest schedule of festivities, visit www.vistastrawberryfest.com. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025 The festivities are expected to echo the historic celebrations of VE Day 80 years ago, when Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI, announced via radio that World War II was over in Europe amid victory by the Allied Powers. Janine Henni, People.com, 8 May 2025 For the final leg of Met Gala festivities, Rihanna attended the A$AP Rocky x Ray Ban Met Gala After Party in belly-baring black lace, leather, and satin. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for festivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festivity
Noun
  • With hyperpop-ish glee, Barbie veered between musical, slapstick comedy, and melodrama.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
  • Julian had a blast cradling the cooing birds and imitating the chant-like calls of the pigeon handlers, flapping his arms with glee as their flocks took flight and landed on command.
    Ashlea Halpern, AFAR Media, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Lai visited army engineers and anti-submarine helicopter crews at bases in the southern city of Kaohsiung to thank them for their efforts before the traditional Dragon Boat festival at the end of the month.
    Ben Blanchard, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • The festival will unfold across the Qatari capital of Doha.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Alternatively, the Perry Lane Hotel, as well as the brand-new, Ann Savannah, will put you in the heart of the merrymaking.
    Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2025
  • In fact, ancient Romans celebrated the day with a fertility festival with animal sacrifices and drunken merrymaking.
    Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Lynch’s early attempt to get heat only resulted in cheers, though there were some boos mixed in.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • After white smoke emerged from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, there was a brief moment of uncertainty when the new pope's name was announced to a huge crowd in St. Peter's Square before people erupted in cheers.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • That night, the royal sisters went out to join the revelry across the city, a scene reimagined in season 6 of The Crown on Netflix.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 9 May 2025
  • But the true horror in the film is the economics of Jim Crow, which drives every event in the plot, including the vampire bloodbath that ultimately cuts the musical revelry—and the twins’ dreams—short.
    Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • That merriment includes exploring some of the secluded isles on the Tuscan coastline.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 May 2025
  • Federal Street in front of the stadium, the Roberto Clemente Bridge, and two blocks of 6th Street in Downtown will be closed off to vehicles and filled with food, drink and merriment for Buccos fans.
    Ryan Deto, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Some years at Cannes, the Med’s most effervescent seasonal kickoff, the bubbles and spice of the social froth provide the jollity.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • Sign up Eating and drinking (Image credit: Riverside Luxury Cruises) The first thing to say about eating on The Ravel is that there is no Captain's Table or forced jollity with other passengers.
    James Rampton, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.
    James Wood, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
  • With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.
    James Wood, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Festivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festivity. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on festivity

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!