festive

adjective

fes·​tive ˈfe-stiv How to pronounce festive (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival
a festive occasion
The house looks festive during the holidays.
2
: joyful, gay
a festive mood
festively adverb
festiveness noun

Examples of festive in a Sentence

The house looks very festive during the holidays. She was in a festive mood. The reunion will be a festive occasion.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their friendship, and the longevity of working with Neil, made for a festive 7 a.m. start: coffee and makeup/hair in the kitchen while my parents watched our kid. Erin Allweiss, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2025 Get The Recipe 02 of 30 Christmas Eve Punch Warm spices, fresh winter citrus, and festive cranberries make this big-batch cocktail ready for the holiday season. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2025 According to the group’s website, the parade evolved from featuring a group of pickup trucks and a single band performing from a trailer to floats, fire truckers and festive marchers. Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025 While many Floridians awoke Sunday morning to prepare for Easter Mass, followed by egg hunts and festive dinners, a few dozen congregants from a Liberty City church headed to the beach for an early morning baptism. Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for festive

Word History

Etymology

Latin festivus, from festum

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of festive was in 1613

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Festive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/festive. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

festive

adjective
fes·​tive ˈfes-tiv How to pronounce festive (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival
2
festively adverb
festiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on festive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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