adjective
Other Word Forms
- festively adverb
- festiveness noun
- nonfestive adjective
- nonfestively adverb
- nonfestiveness noun
- subfestive adjective
- subfestively adverb
- subfestiveness noun
- unfestive adjective
- unfestively adverb
Etymology
Origin of festive
First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin festīvus “merry, lively, joyous,” equivalent to festus “festal” + -īvus -ive
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.
Wife Rosie said Wallace sang in the Dunblane Cathedral choir over the festive period and was looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren.
From BBC
Something festive but low-pressure: a bottle of fancy nonalcoholic cider or sparkling juice—celebratory without assuming anything.
From Salon
And she credits her preparation over the festive period, which included four days alongside Rimmer retracing her childhood running routes, with her success.
From BBC
Demand for online jewellery helped boost retail sales in December, despite a difficult festive period overall for retailers, figures show.
From BBC
When Father Christmas visited Derby, he hoped to spread festive joy by meeting children at a shopping centre.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
