fete

[ feyt, fet ]
See synonyms for: fetefeted on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural fetes.
  1. a day of celebration; holiday: The Fourth of July is a great American fete.

  2. a festive celebration or entertainment: The ball was the greatest fete of the season.

  1. a religious feast or festival: a fete lasting several days in honor of a saint.

verb (used with object),fet·ed, fet·ing.
  1. to entertain at or honor with a fete: to fete a visiting celebrity.

  2. to celebrate, laud, or acclaim: He was feted in the press and honored by fellow citizens.

Origin of fete

1
First recorded in 1745–55; from French fête “holiday, festival,” from Old French feste “feast”; see origin at feast
  • Also fête [feyt, fet; French fet]. /feɪt, fɛt; French fɛt/.

Words that may be confused with fete

Words Nearby fete

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use fete in a sentence

  • Thanks to the presence of blackface and KKK costumes, her offensive fete went viral and earner her instant infamy.

  • Paris Hilton tried her hand at DJing in L.A. at a fete celebrating the release of her new single with Lil Wayne, "Good Time."

  • At midsummer was to be a fete in the Saboba village, and the San Bernardino priest would come there.

    Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson
  • Two or three times during the winter he gave a fete as a matter of social pride in return for the civilities he received.

    Juana | Honore de Balzac
  • Both were present at this fete given at the New Palace on the night of the 15th of July in their character of reporters.

    Michael Strogoff | Jules Verne
  • Everybody wore rich apparel and was talking of the coming fete.

    The Land of the Changing Sun | William N. Harben
  • Next week, sometime, I am to have my promised lawn fete to introduce 53 the countryside to the new member of our household.

    Mavis of Green Hill | Faith Baldwin

British Dictionary definitions for fête

fête

fete

/ (feɪt) /


noun
  1. a gala, bazaar, or similar entertainment, esp one held outdoors in aid of charity

  2. a feast day or holiday, esp one of religious significance

  1. Caribbean informal an organized group entertainment, esp a party or a dance

verb
  1. (tr) to honour or entertain with or as if with a fête: the author was fêted by his publishers

  2. (intr) Caribbean informal to join in a fête

Origin of fête

1
C18: from French: feast

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