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fete

[fayt, 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:

Menin’s outcry helped thrust into the public eye the private effort to get the Met to revise its plans to fete Galliano at a time when antisemitism is rising globally.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 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

To fete the supersized 250th anniversary, a committee of local burghers has been meeting every few weeks for four years, preparing for as many as 100,000 people to show up this weekend.

From Slate ● Apr. 19, 2025

The host raked in money from nonmembers as well, who paid cash for liquor and stockvel plates during the fete.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

It enables the community to use the field for events like fetes and weddings, while still encouraging wildlife diversity, Taylor said.

From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026

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

At one of last week’s fetes for foreign business executives, including Apple’s Tim Cook, Li Qiang, China’s new premier, pledged that China would continue to “open its doors wider and wider.”

From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2023

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

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon feted his guest with an indigenous Maori welcome and guard of honour, seeking to expand relations after signing a free-trade pact in April that he has touted as an economic boon.

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

That could have been Trout’s spot this summer: a worthy honor for a three-time most valuable player, a local hero feted on the national stage the Angels have failed to provide him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 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

Haydn was feted by the likes of Messrs Darcy and Bingley rather than by the Bennets and Lucases.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

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

Her Seattle stop kicks off her new Trilogy Tour, feting her three albums, including last year’s “Portals.”

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 18, 2024

Beijing would prefer a Nationalist leader in Taipei, and over recent days has been hosting, and feting, Ma Ying-jeou, the previous Nationalist president.

From New York Times ● Apr. 6, 2023

And off he went, opening the great doors, feting the musicians, soaking them with champagne, drunk himself without drinking a drop, solely with the music which brought him back to life.

From Tartarin On The Alps by Katharine Prescott Wormeley


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