fete
noun
a day of celebration; holiday.
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fete
American
[fayt, fet]
/ feɪt, fɛt /
French
fête
noun
-
fetes
plural
-
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)
feted,
feting
-
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.
fête
British
/ 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
-
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
-
informal (intr) to join in a fête
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of fete
First recorded in 1745–55; from French fête “holiday, festival,” from Old French feste “feast”; see origin at feast
Explanation
A fête is a party, often one thrown in someone's honor. You'll find fête used as both a verb and a noun. If you want to fête someone, throw them a fête. Fête is a word taken directly from French. In fact, sometimes in English you'll see a circumflex accent over the first "e" in fête. This makes it especially easy to remember, because this accent looks almost like a party hat.
Vocabulary lists containing fete
Party Parlance for Mardi Gras
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National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
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Mardi Gras: Fun
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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.
See Examples For:
A resident of Oxnard, Channtal Shrauger also made a bit of a drive to fete the closing restaurant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
This year’s special America 250 fete brings together more than 1,000 global performers who will treat audiences to pipe-and-drum acts, drill teams, military bands, choirs, motorcycle stunt shows and more.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026
While many trek in from across the country or from the diaspora in Europe and the United States, some hotel owners also report growing numbers of foreign tourists as the annual fete grows.
From Barron's ● Dec. 22, 2025
The White House often uses a tent on the South Lawn to fete foreign leaders and a larger guest list for a state dinner.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2025
Her noble husband had opened the Great Pyramid to fete them.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
There are groups of friends, families and even dogs - it's like a big summer fête, with rainbows and glitter.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
Charles, whose birthday was Nov. 14 and has had a number of recent health problems, wasn’t actually in attendance at Thursday’s fête.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
Earlier this week, Klum told USA Today that her yearly fête was a result of having few “really cool” Halloween party options in New York.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2024
It’s like they are frozen in time, enjoying a giant and timeless party somewhere: On a balcony admiring ballroom dancers, or guests at a grandiose fête thrown by the Great Gatsby himself.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 4, 2024
I see the stars, I see the rockets, and for a moment have the impression that I have fallen asleep at a garden fête.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
Biden and Kishida on Wednesday will hold talks and take part in a joint news conference before Biden fetes the Japanese leader with the state dinner in the East Room.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 8, 2024
The idea he would savour being a humble backbencher asking questions about cash for the local hospital or appearing at school fetes was for the birds.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2023
Most FYC fetes, though, have continued as scheduled, even with holes on the Q&A panels.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2023
“Sunset Blvd.” — the title is officially abbreviated though it is often written out as Boulevard — includes one of the most horrifying New Year’s Eve fetes committed to film.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 30, 2022
It’s impossible to imagine her as a typical Illustrian girl, angling for a good match, attending fetes and allowing herself to be seduced by fittingly highborn men.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
Talking to the tennis icon, being feted at the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
It's named after the feted New York club where Madonna got an early break by persuading DJ Mark Kamins to play her debut single, Everybody.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
Beckham, who spent six seasons with LA Galaxy from 2007, said he was deeply honored to be feted by a Hollywood film megastar.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
During his first term, China feted him like a favorite prince with various ceremonies: a private tour of the Forbidden City, followed by a performance by the Peking Opera and a huge state dinner.
From Salon ● May 14, 2026
He was feted by heads of state and featured in newspapers and magazines all over the world.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
She ultimately decided on building an altar to counteract her fear with the joy of feting life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
And Monday, while speakers were feting him with their deepest thanks for hour after hour, they were also delaying his speaking window until after prime time on the East Coast.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2024
But his remarks at his own feting were defining: In 17 seasons of owning the Nats, Lerner was the franchise’s unquestioned North Star — from which everything important emanated but almost nothing was heard.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 13, 2023
But in feting “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” the metaverse-skipping action adventure directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheiner, the filmmaking duo known as “the Daniels,” the Gothams selected an unlikely runaway success.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 28, 2022
Lord Chandos was always either being feted or feting others.
From A Mad Love by Charlotte M. Brame
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