feast
gb/fˈist/ us/fˈist/
A2
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A large celebratory meal
A big meal with many kinds of food, usually for a party or holiday.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has a feast
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'feast' with 'festival'. A festival is an event, while a feast is specifically the large meal.
Synonyms
banquet (More formal and often used for official or ceremonial meals.)
|
spread (Informal; emphasizes the variety of food available.)
Antonyms
fast (The opposite in terms of food consumption; going without eating.)
Collocations
holiday feast
|wedding feast
|Thanksgiving feast
|royal feast
|feast table
Themes
food
|celebration
|culture
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- The family gathered for a feast on Christmas Day.
- The wedding feast lasted well into the night.
- They prepared a lavish feast for the returning soldiers.
- The king invited his guests to a grand feast.
- We enjoyed a traditional harvest feast at the farm.
Learner examples
- We had a big feast for my birthday.
- The feast had meat, rice, and cake.
- They made a feast for the new year.
- We went to a feast at my uncle's house.
Verb
B1
action
2
Eat a large special meal
To eat a lot of nice food at a party or holiday.
Usage pattern:
to feast on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'feast on' with simply 'eat', but 'feast' suggests abundance and specialness.
Synonyms
banquet (Verb form is rare; implies eating in a formal setting.)
|
indulge (Broader meaning; can apply to non-food pleasures.)
Antonyms
fast (To deliberately not eat.)
Collocations
feast on seafood
|feast together
|feast like kings
Themes
food
|celebration
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- They feasted on roast turkey and pumpkin pie.
- We feasted together after the long hike.
- The guests feasted like kings at the royal banquet.
- On Eid, families feast on special dishes.
- After the wedding, everyone feasted until midnight.
Learner examples
- We feasted on chicken and rice.
- They feasted at the wedding.
- We will feast after the game.
- He feasted on fresh fish.
Noun
B1
event
3
A celebration event with food and fun
A party or event with a lot of food and fun activities.
Synonyms
festival (Usually larger in scope and may last multiple days.)
Collocations
medieval feast
|cultural feast
|feast day
Themes
celebration
|culture
|food_drink
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
Examples
- The medieval feast included dancing and music.
- The village held a feast to celebrate the harvest.
- We attended a cultural feast with traditional performances.
- The feast lasted three days with games and singing.
Learner examples
- The town had a big feast for the holiday.
- We went to the feast in the square.
- The feast had music and dancing.
Verb
literary
B2
action
4
Enjoy looking at something greatly
To enjoy something very much, especially by looking at it.
Usage pattern:
to feast [one's eyes] on [something]
Synonyms
revel (Implies deep enjoyment, often of an experience.)
Collocations
feast one's eyes on
|feast upon beauty
Themes
emotions
|perception
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We feasted our eyes on the stunning sunset.
- She feasted her ears on the orchestra's performance.
- Tourists feasted on the breathtaking view.
Learner examples
- I feasted my eyes on the flowers.
- They feasted their eyes on the sea.
- He feasted his eyes on the art.
Grammar
Dictionary form
feast
IPA
GB/fˈist/
US/fˈist/
Syllables & stress
feast (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (feast)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: feast
- Plural: feasts
Verb
- Base: feast
- 3rd Person Singular: feasts
- Present Participle: feasting
- Past: feasted
Word family
Expressions
a feast for the ears
1/ə fˈist fɚ ðə ˈɪɹz/
idiom
Something wonderful to hear
Something very nice to listen to, like music or speech.
Examples
- Her singing was a feast for the ears.
- The concert was truly a feast for the ears.
a feast for the eyes
1/ə fˈist fɚ ðə ˈaɪz/
idiom
Something wonderful to look at
Something very beautiful or interesting to see.
Examples
- The garden in spring is a feast for the eyes.
- The art show was a real feast for the eyes.
feast your eyes on
1/fˈist jˈʊɹ ˈaɪz ˈɔn/
idiom
Look with great enjoyment
To look at something beautiful or impressive and enjoy it very much.
Examples
- Feast your eyes on this beautiful painting!
- Feast your eyes on our new car.
moveable feast
1/mˈoʊvəbəl fˈist/
idiom
Event with changing date each year
An event that happens on a different date each year.
Examples
- Easter is a moveable feast, so its date changes every year.
- The festival is a moveable feast that depends on the lunar calendar.