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fete

[feyt, fet] / feɪt, fɛt /




Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for fete?
A fete is a celebration, a festival, or a day of celebration. As a verb, it can mean to honor someone with such a celebration—to celebrate someone with a big party in their honor. In these contexts, the word implies that the celebration is big and lavish, like a fancy banquet, gala, feast, or ball. As a verb, it can also mean to generally celebrate someone—not with a party, but with a lot of praise or positive media coverage, for example.
Where does fete come from?
Fete comes from the French word feste, meaning “feast."
How do you use fete in a sentence?
Fete is perhaps most commonly used as a verb. Feting someone sometimes involves an actual party, but often it simply involves celebration and praise. Here are some examples of fete in a sentence:
  • Bill’s retiring and we’re throwing a big fete in his honor.
  • Hundreds gathered to fete the couple on their wedding day.
  • The director, once feted by critics, is no longer a media darling.

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:

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

He returned home a hero, with his picture on the cover of Life magazine, a White House fete and unexpected celebrity.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 8, 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

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

Most FYC fetes, though, have continued as scheduled, even with holes on the Q&A panels.

From Los Angeles Times May 31, 2023

A philosopher, writer, television personality and filmmaker, Lévy is a quintessentially French invention in a country that fetes its public intellectuals like pop stars.

From New York Times Feb. 28, 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

The ‘magnificences’ she oversaw at the French court had many components, from jousting tournaments and firework displays to water fetes and mock battles.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Modi was also feted by an estimated 10,000 or more supporters from among the country's 300,000-strong Indian diaspora gathering at a community event in Auckland's Spark Arena.

From Barron's Jul. 11, 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

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

When he incurred a potentially career-ending knee injury in the 1970-71 season—and was feted with a “Jerry West Night”—it left him cold.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 14, 2026

They were feted by premiers and emirs and entertained at embassies and consulates as they made their way back west to Palermo, Sicily, where they boarded another tanker for the homeward passage.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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

Kishida’s official visit completes the administration’s feting of the leaders of the Quad, the informal partnership between the U.S.,

From Seattle Times Apr. 10, 2024

The administration’s feting of Modi stretched into Friday at the State Department, where Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken hosted a luncheon in the Indian leader’s honor.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 24, 2023

When and if Venus decides to announce her retirement, she will receive a full-throated feting of her career, as Serena is getting now.

From Washington Post Aug. 31, 2022

We're often in waiting At junket or feting, And sometimes attend an interment— DUKE.

From The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan by Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck), Sir




Vocabulary lists containing fete


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