feast

feast — noun

1. a meal of many rich dishes, shared with family or friends, often to celebrate a

1.nounB1
Definition

a meal of many rich dishes, shared with family or friends, often to celebrate a wedding, holiday, or other happy occasion.

Example

The wedding feast lasted all evening, with seven courses and live music.

collocation: wedding feast

After the harvest, the village gathered for a feast of roasted meat and bread.

feast of [dish type] for describing spread

Common collocations
  • wedding feast
  • harvest feast
  • feast of [dish/ingredient]
  • a feast fit for a king
  • prepare a feast
Synonyms
  • banquet

    more formal, usually a large official meal with many guests

  • spread

    informal, emphasizes the wide variety of dishes laid out

  • buffet

    a meal where guests serve themselves from a table, not necessarily celebratory

Antonyms
  • snack

    a small, light amount of food, not a full meal

Common Mistakes

We went to a feast restaurant.
We went to a restaurant for a feast.
'Feast' is a noun describing the meal, not an adjective for a type of place.

2. a single experience or event that is extremely pleasant and satisfying — such as

2.nounB2
Definition

a single experience or event that is extremely pleasant and satisfying — such as a concert you love, a garden you admire, or a market you enjoy exploring.

Example

The spring garden was a feast for the senses, with colorful flowers and sweet smells.

a feast for the [senses/eyes/ears]

That museum exhibition is a visual feast of Renaissance paintings.

Common collocations
  • a feast for the eyes
  • a feast for the senses
  • visual feast
  • a feast of [music, art, color]
Synonyms
  • treat

    more informal, can refer to any special pleasure, not just sensory

Usage Note

Very often used in the pattern 'a feast for the [senses/eyes/ears]' to describe something that gives visual or auditory pleasure.

3. a large and enjoyable variety of different things — emphasizing abundance and ra

3.nounB2
Definition

a large and enjoyable variety of different things — emphasizing abundance and range rather than a single event; for example, a library with a wide selection of books, or a website offering many types of recipes.

Example

The library offers a feast of books on every topic you can imagine.

a feast of [things] for abundance

This photography book is a feast of images from across Southeast Asia.

Common collocations
  • a feast of [books, images, music, stories]
Synonyms
  • abundance

    more general, does not carry the same sense of enjoyment

  • wealth

    suggests a valuable and impressive variety

Antonyms

4. a holy day in a religion that honors a specific religious figure or remembers an

4.nounB2
Definition

a holy day in a religion that honors a specific religious figure or remembers an important religious event.

Example

Easter is the most important feast in the Christian calendar.

The village celebrates its patron saint's feast every autumn with a parade.

collocation: patron saint's feast

Common collocations
  • religious feast
  • feast day
  • patron saint's feast
  • feast of [saint/event]
Synonyms
  • festival

    broader — can be secular or religious, often lasts several days

  • holy day

    any day of religious importance, not always associated with feasting

Usage Note

Often capitalized when referring to a specific named celebration, for example 'the Feast of the Epiphany' or 'the Feast of Passover.'

Common Mistakes

We go to church on feast.
We go to church on a feast day (or for a feast).
'Feast' alone cannot mean the day; use 'feast day' or 'feast.'

feast — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four nouns describe a meal, but they differ in formality, setting, and purpose. A 'feast' emphasizes celebration and abundance — it is a large, special meal shared with others on a joyful occasion, such as a wedding or holiday. A 'banquet' is more formal and official, often held in a large hall for a specific event like a charity dinner or awards ceremony. 'Spread' is informal and casual: it suggests a table covered with many dishes, often a home-cooked meal or potluck where guests help themselves. A 'buffet' is a style of serving where guests line up and choose from different dishes; it can be casual or elegant but does not imply celebration. For a family gathering at home, say 'a wonderful spread.' For a formal awards dinner, say 'a banquet.' For a wedding celebration, both 'feast' and 'banquet' work — 'feast' sounds warmer and more traditional.

banquet ↗spread ↗buffet ↗feast ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'feast' comes from the Latin 'festus,' meaning 'joyful' or 'celebratory.' This Latin root also gave us 'festival' and 'festive.' The word traveled into Old French as 'feste,' then into Middle English as 'feste' or 'feeste,' eventually becoming 'feast' in modern English. The original sense focused on religious celebration — a day of joy and feasting — and only later broadened to mean a large, elaborate meal of any kind.