Catherine D. Bowen
Did you know?
Fete is a word worth celebrating. It's been around since Middle English, when it was used in a manuscript to refer to "fetes, spectacles and other worldly vanytees." Since the 19th century, fete has been doing double duty, also serving as a verb meaning "to honor or commemorate with a fete." You can honor fete by remembering that it entered English from Middle French, and that it derives ultimately from the Old French feste, meaning "festival"—a root that, not surprisingly, also gave English the word feast. Because of its French ties, you will sometimes see fete spelled with a circumflex above the first e (fête), as that's how it appears in that language.
Examples of fete in a Sentence
Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2025
Even The White Lotus producers shot a scene from the island's famous fete for an upcoming episode.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Joshua Spivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
McAvoy was feted with the Cinema City Honorary Award at the Glasgow Film Festival and before receiving that award from festival director Allison Gardner, the actor-director made an impassioned comment on providing education in the arts sectors.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fete
Cite this Entry
“Fete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fete. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fete
2 of 2 verb
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