fete

[ feyt, fet ]

See synonyms for: fete feted on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural fetes.

a day of celebration; holiday: The Fourth of July is a great American fete.
a festive celebration or entertainment: The ball was the greatest fete of the season.

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

verb (used with object),fet·ed, fet·ing.

to entertain at or honor with a fete: to fete a visiting celebrity.
to celebrate, laud, or acclaim: He was feted in the press and honored by fellow citizens.

Origin of fete

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

fate, fete

Words Nearby fete

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fete in a sentence

For a corporate client who hosted 1,500-person holiday fetes before the pandemic, Tinsel Experiential Design in New York instead organized three separate events with two different concepts.
Office holiday parties are back and smaller than ever | Rani Molla | November 22, 2021 | Vox
She spent the day wandering around in shock until she could pop corks with her colleagues in a virtual fete.
These scientists spent decades pushing NASA to go back to Venus. Now they’re on a hot streak. | Corinne Iozzio | June 29, 2021 | Popular-Science
The real hackers—whoever they may prove to be—had pulled off a feat: they ruined a Hollywood fete.
Sony Hack: A Dictator Move? | Kevin Bleyer | December 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The glamorous fete was followed by the premiere of the 4-hour miniseries Olive Kitteridge, which will premiere on HBO Nov. 2.
Frances McDormand on 'Olive Kitteridge,' Dropping LSD, and Her Beef With FX's 'Fargo' | Marlow Stern | September 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The fete Worse Than Death was an organizational disaster and a massive success.
Joshua Compston Was Once the Wunderkind of the British Art World…and Now He’s Been Practically Forgotten | Anthony Haden-Guest | January 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Thanks to the presence of blackface and KKK costumes, her offensive fete went viral and earner her instant infamy.
Why It’s Time to End Blackface, Finally | Soraya Roberts | October 31, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
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."
Paris Hilton's Trippy Los Angeles Release Party For Her Single With Lil Wayne | Jean Trinh | October 9, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
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

a gala, bazaar, or similar entertainment, esp one held outdoors in aid of charity
a feast day or holiday, esp one of religious significance

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

verb

(tr) to honour or entertain with or as if with a fête: the author was fêted by his publishers
(intr) Caribbean informal to join in a fête

Origin of fête

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

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