feast
B1Formal to neutral; can be used poetically or metaphorically in informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A large and special meal for many people, often to celebrate something.
An abundant supply of something, especially for the senses or mind, that is enjoyed greatly (e.g., a feast for the eyes); a religious festival.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primary meaning centers on celebration and abundance. As a verb, it implies eating and enjoying a large amount of food.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. The religious festival sense is slightly more archaic in general AmE.
Connotations
Similar connotations of celebration, abundance, and enjoyment in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
feast on somethingfeast your eyes on somethinghold/give/have a feastVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “feast or famine”
- “feast your eyes on”
- “a movable feast”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The merger created a feast of new opportunities.'
Academic
Historical/sociological contexts: 'The medieval harvest feast.' Literary analysis: 'The poem is a visual feast.'
Everyday
Describing a large celebratory meal: 'We had a proper feast for her birthday.'
Technical
Not typically used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They will feast on turkey and all the trimmings this Christmas.
- Let us feast and make merry!
American English
- We feasted on ribs and cornbread at the cookout.
- After the win, the team feasted at their favorite steakhouse.
adjective
British English
- The feast day was a public holiday.
- They prepared a feast-worthy goose.
American English
- The feast table was laden with food.
- It was a feast-size turkey.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We had a big feast for my birthday.
- Christmas dinner is a special feast.
- The villagers prepared a feast to celebrate the harvest.
- The book is a feast for the imagination.
- They feasted their eyes on the stunning view from the mountaintop.
- The conference offered a veritable feast of new ideas.
- His career has been a classic case of feast or famine.
- The film's cinematography provides a sumptuous visual feast.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the EASTer celebration – a time for a great FEAST.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPERIENCE IS FOOD (e.g., a feast of music), ABUNDANCE IS A LARGE MEAL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation for 'праздник' when referring to a holiday/date without a meal. Feast is primarily about the meal/abundance aspect. The Russian word 'пир' is a closer match.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'feast' for any large meal without a celebratory/abundant connotation.
- Using the verb without the preposition 'on': incorrect 'We feasted lobster.' correct 'We feasted on lobster.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the meaning of 'feast your eyes on'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often synonyms. 'Feast' can sound more celebratory and traditional, while 'banquet' often implies a more formal, organised event, sometimes for a specific purpose (e.g., an awards banquet).
Yes. It means to eat a large amount of enjoyable food, e.g., 'We feasted on pizza.' It is also used in the phrasal verb 'feast your eyes on something'.
It is neutral to formal when referring to the meal itself. It can be used informally, especially in metaphorical phrases like 'a feast for the eyes'.
It describes a situation where there is either too much of something (a feast) or too little (a famine), with no happy medium. It's often used for inconsistent work or income.