noun
C2
Proficient
fete
fayt
Fete (noun) means a public festival or fair, often held to raise money for charity. Example: “The village fete had a cake stand and a tombola.”
noun
1
A public festival or fair, often held to raise money for charity.
"The village fete had a cake stand and a tombola."
"Every summer the school holds a fete on the playing field."
verb
1
To honor or celebrate someone with a special occasion.
"The retiring coach was feted at a dinner in his name."
How to use fete
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA festival or celebration, or to celebrate someone publicly.
UK vs US
The noun sense (a small charity fair) is much more common in British English than American English.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
village fete
feted as a hero
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Word forms
- Plural
- fetes
- Third person singular
- fetes
- Past tense
- feted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The village _____ had a cake stand and a tombola.
Etymology
From French fête ("feast, celebration"); a doublet of feast and fiesta.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for fete
See all rhymes for fete →Frequently asked questions
What does “fete” mean?
The word “fete” means a public festival or fair, often held to raise money for charity. In plain terms, a festival or celebration, or to celebrate someone publicly.
How do you pronounce “fete”?
“Fete” is pronounced fayt (/feɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “fete” in a sentence?
Here is “fete” used in a sentence: “The village fete had a cake stand and a tombola.”
What part of speech is “fete”?
Depending on how it is used, “fete” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “fete” come from?
The word “fete” comes from French. From French fête ("feast, celebration"); a doublet of feast and fiesta.
How many meanings does “fete” have?
“Fete” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a public festival or fair, often held to raise money for charity.
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