Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

banquet

American  
[bang-kwit] / ˈbæŋ kwɪt /

noun

  1. a lavish meal; feast.

  2. a ceremonious public dinner, especially one honoring a person, benefiting a charity, etc.


verb (used with object)

banqueted, banqueting
  1. to entertain or regale with a banquet.

    They banqueted the visiting prime minister in grand style.

verb (used without object)

banqueted, banqueting
  1. to have or attend a banquet; feast.

    They banqueted on pheasant, wild boar, and three kinds of fish.

banquet British  
/ ˈbæŋkwɪt /

noun

  1. a lavish and sumptuous meal; feast

  2. a ceremonial meal for many people, often followed by speeches

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to hold or take part in a banquet

  2. (tr) to entertain or honour (a person) with a banquet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does banquet mean? A banquet is a feast, as in Theo likes to host banquets so he can cook all his favorite foods for others.A banquet is also a public dinner, often very fancy and benefiting a charity or celebrating a person, as in Mac likes to organize the sports banquet at the end of the year for all the school’s teams.A banquet is basically a feast for a lot of people. It’s a large, sumptuous meal during a ceremonious gathering. Banquets can be arranged to benefit a charity or to celebrate a specific person or group of people.To banquet means to entertain with a banquet or to have a banquet.You’ll often hear the phrase banqueting hall, which is a room, especially in large medieval buildings, that is big enough to hold a banquet.Example: Doreen hosted a banquet to raise money for a children’s charity.

Related Words

See feast.

Other Word Forms

  • banqueteer noun
  • banqueter noun

Etymology

Origin of banquet

First recorded in 1450–1500; from Middle French, from Italian banchetto ( banc(o) “table” ( bank 2 ) + -etto -et ); replacing late Middle English bankat, banket(te), from Middle French

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will host the first German state visit to the UK in 27 years - with a state banquet and ceremonial events in Windsor on Wednesday.

From BBC

But dishes comprising the Korean royal banquet, such as gujeolpan, often include meat.

From Salon

The self-proclaimed socialist, who has been re-elected three times, forged an image that has become his trademark -- a progressive Muslim just as comfortable at a Pride march as he is at an Eid banquet.

From Barron's

State visits are a mix of political and business meetings, alongside royal pageantry and a diplomatic red-carpet welcome, with a banquet, military parade and carriage rides.

From BBC

The president seemed to enjoy his lavish royal reception in the UK, not least the glittering state banquet held in his honour.

From BBC