feast

American  

[feest] / fist /

noun

1. any rich or abundant meal.

   The steak dinner was a feast.

2. a sumptuous entertainment or meal for many guests.

   a wedding feast.

3. something highly agreeable.

   The Rembrandt exhibition was a feast for the eyes.

4. a periodical celebration or time of celebration, usually of a religious nature, commemorating an event, person, etc..

   Every year, in September, the townspeople have a feast in honor of their patron saint.

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verb (used without object)

feasts, present (3rd person singular) feasted, past participle, past feasting present participle

1. to have or partake of a feast; eat sumptuously.

2. to dwell with gratification or delight, as on a picture or view.

verb (used with object)

feasts, present (3rd person singular) feasted, past participle, past feasting present participle

1. to provide or entertain with a feast.

idioms

1. feast one's eyes, to gaze with great joy, admiration, or relish.

   to feast one's eyes on the Grand Canyon.

feast British  

/ fiːst /

noun

1. a large and sumptuous meal, usually given as an entertainment for several people

2. a periodic religious celebration

3. something extremely pleasing or sumptuous

   a feast for the eyes

4. a festival or other event of variable date

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verb

1. (intr)

   1. to eat a feast

   2. (usually foll by on) to enjoy the eating (of), as if feasting

      to feast on cakes

2. (tr) to give a feast to

3. to take great delight (in)

   to feast on beautiful paintings

4. (tr) to regale or delight

   to feast one's mind or one's eyes

Synonym Usage

Feast, banquet imply large social events, with an abundance of food. A feast is a meal with a plenteous supply of food and drink for a large company: to provide a feast for all company employees. A banquet is an elaborate feast for a formal and ceremonious occasion: the main speaker at a banquet.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unfeasted
  adjective
• prefeast
  noun
• feaster
  noun
• outfeast
  verb (used with object)
• overfeast
  verb
• feastless
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has feasted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have feasted
  perfect
• am feasting
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been feasting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is feasting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been feasting
  perfect progressive
• are feasting
  progressive
• feasts
  singular 3rd person
• feasting
  participle

Past

• had feasted
  perfect
• were feasting
  progressive plural
• was feasting
  progressive singular
• had been feasting
  perfect progressive
• feasted
  participle
• feasted
  simple

Future

• will feast
  simple
• will have feasted
  perfect
• will be feasting
  progressive
• will have been feasting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of feast

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English feste, from Old French, from Latin fēsta, neuter plural (reinterpteted as feminine singular noun in Vulgar Latin ) of fēstus “festal, festive,” equivalent to fēs- (akin to fair ² ) + -tus adjective suffix

Explanation

A feast is a huge, delicious meal that's served at a party or celebration. You might have a feast to celebrate the last day of school every year. You can use the word feast in several different ways. It's good for describing the meal you eat at a party, or as a verb meaning "to eat in celebration." You might feast for several days during your family reunion. You can also use feast figuratively to mean a delight, as when you say, "Your garden is a feast for the eyes, Grandma." The Latin root, festa, means "holidays or feasts," from festus, "festive, joyful, or merry."

Example Sentences

Sparrows in New Zealand flap their wings near automatic-door sensors at bus stations, then sweep inside to feast.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

During a feast where guests were expected to recite poetry, he reportedly became embarrassed because he did not know any songs or verses to perform.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2026

Full World Cup qualifying campaign with 174 teams, indoor mode - which was a breathless five-a-side feast with no throw-ins - red cards for slide-tackling the goalkeeper and the ability to customise kits.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

It’s also a visual feast, with a dynamic camera that is truly its own beast.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

“Cool with me. But, uh, a few pesky logistical problems. We got what—two weeks until that Roman feast day when Gaea is supposed to rise?”

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• barbecue
• dinner
• festival
• festivity
• fiesta
• gala
• picnic
• repast