festive

adjective

fes·​tive ˈfe-stiv 

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

Synonyms

• blithe
• blithesome
• gay
• gleeful
• jocose
• jocular
• jocund
• jolly
• jovial
• laughing
• merry
• mirthful
• sunny

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

And Finally… To get this weekend off to a festive start, let this duck entertain you with some Christmas carols. —Cate Martel, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024

This week’s list offers something for everyone, from soulful R&B to high-energy hip-hop and festive Afrobeats. —Okla Jones, Essence, 20 Dec. 2024

Every December, people across the globe adorn their homes with festive greenery for the holidays. —Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 20 Dec. 2024

Deck the halls with–a cosmic wreath On December 18, NASA released a new image of star cluster NGC 602 and shows what looks like a festive wrath with twinkling lights. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin festivus, from festum

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

festive

adjective

fes·​tive ˈfes-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival

2

: joyous, merry

festively adverb

festiveness noun