Festival Meaning
/ˈfɛstɪvl̩/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjPertaining to a feast or feast day; festive. (Now only as the noun used attributively.)
nounA feast or feast day.
Sentence Examples
My school is getting ready for the campus music festival.
They helped one another to make the school festival a success.
The festival showcases the talent of young musicians.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
Every summer, the small town holds a three-day music ____ in the park.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The annual film ____ attracts directors and actors from all over the world to showcase their latest work.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English festival (adjective), from Old French festival (“festive”), from Late Latin fēstīvālis, from Latin fēstīvus (“festive”). By surface analysis, festive + -al. Displaced native Old English frēols. The noun is shortened from festival day, from Middle English festival dai, festiuall day (“feast day, festival”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"the temple of the Gods […] / Whom all the people decke with girlands greene, / And honour in their festiuall resort […]"
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"All your males are to appear three times a year before the Lord your God in the place He chooses: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. No one is to appear before the Lord empty-handed."
— 2009, “Deuteronomy 16:16”, in Holman Christian Standard Bible:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Every summer, the small town holds a three-day music ____ in the park.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The annual film ____ attracts directors and actors from all over the world to showcase their latest work.