Festive — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈfe-stiv/ fes·tive

Meaning & Definition of Festive

Festive (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival
  2. joyful, gay

Festive (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor

    "we arrived at the Christmas party to find everyone already in a festive mood, perhaps owing in part to the punch"

    similar: blithe, blithesome, gay, gleeful, jocose, jocular, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, merry, mirthful, sunny
    related: amused, beaming, chuckling, giggling, smiling, bright, buoyant, carefree, cheerful, cheery, chipper, lighthearted, lightsome, upbeat, animated, bouncing, frisky, jaunty, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious, zippy, blessed, blissful, delighted, ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, exuberant, exultant, gladsome, happy, high, joyful, joyous, jubilant, overjoyed, radiant, rapturous, ravished, thrilled, tickled, amusing, facetious, flippant, frolicsome, funny, hilarious, jesting, joking, joshing, playful, sportive, witty, cavalier, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, unconcerned, hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine, antic, comic, comical, farcical, humorous, riotous, sidesplitting, uproarious
    near: abject, aggrieved, anguished, blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, glum, heartbroken, heartsick, heavyhearted, low-spirited, melancholy, sad, saddened, sorrowful, unhappy, crying, groaning, moaning, sobbing, wailing, weeping, discontented, disgruntled, moody, doleful, dolorous, joyless, lachrymose, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, sorry, woeful, black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, gloomy, gray, morose, saturnine, somber, sullen, miserable, woebegone, wretched, dull, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Festive

The most common words with a similar meaning to Festive:

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

Related Words for Festive

amused, beaming, chuckling, giggling, smiling, bright, buoyant, carefree, cheerful, cheery, chipper, lighthearted, lightsome, upbeat, animated, bouncing, frisky, jaunty, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious, zippy, blessed, blissful, delighted, ecstatic

Near Antonyms of Festive

abject, aggrieved, anguished, blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, glum, heartbroken, heartsick, heavyhearted, low-spirited, melancholy, sad, saddened, sorrowful, unhappy, crying, groaning, moaning, sobbing, wailing

Word Forms of Festive

Derived words: festively (adverb), festiveness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Festive

borrowed from Latin fēstīvus "festal, fine, excellent, jovial, lively," from fēstum "feast day, festival, holiday" (noun derivative from neuter of fēstus "of a feast day, festal") + -īvus -ive feast:1

First known use: 1613

Frequently Asked Questions about Festive

What does "Festive" mean?

"Festive" means of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival. As an adjective, it is defined as: of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival.

What is another word for "Festive"?

Other words for "Festive" include blithe, blithesome, gay, gleeful, jocose, jocular, jocund and jolly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Festive" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Festive"?

There are 92 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Festive". Common alternatives include blithe, blithesome, gay, gleeful, jocose, jocular, jocund, jolly, jovial and laughing.

How do you use "Festive" in a sentence?

Examples of "Festive" in a sentence: "we arrived at the Christmas party to find everyone already in a festive mood, perhaps owing in part to the punch".

Is "Festive" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Festive" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Festive"?

"Festive" is pronounced /ˈfe-stiv/ and divided into syllables as fes·tive.

What is the origin of the word "Festive"?

"Festive" comes from borrowed from Latin fēstīvus "festal, fine, excellent, jovial, lively," from fēstum "feast day, festival, holiday" (noun derivative from neuter of fēstus "of a feast day, festal") + -īvus -ive feast:1. First known use: 1613.

What is another word for "Festive" meaning "indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor"?

When "Festive" (adjective) means indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor, synonyms include blithe, blithesome, gay, gleeful, jocose and jocular.