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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:

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

Beneath gilded portraits and suits of armour in Windsor Castle, 160 guests wined and dined at a lavish banquet to fete US President Donald Trump's unprecedented second state visit to the UK on Wednesday evening.

From BBC Sep. 18, 2025

He set aside special days to honor individual states and nations and to fete distinct groups of workers, including cobblers, millers, confectioners, and stenographers.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

As an MP, Donaldson was a regular fixture at events in his constituency of Lagan Valley - from school fetes to church services, charity fundraisers to public meetings, he was there.

From BBC Jun. 22, 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

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

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

Despite his national hero status, Aung San is feted mostly by ethnic majority Bamar elites, rather than the ethnic minority groups who have fought against central rule for decades, researcher Morgan Michaels said.

From Barron's Jul. 18, 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

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

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

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

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

Lord Chandos was always either being feted or feting others.

From A Mad Love by Charlotte M. Brame




Vocabulary lists containing fete


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