A fete is an extravagant celebration or party, sometimes outdoors. It can also be considered a festival where a large number of individuals gather to honor someone. As a verb, to fete someone is to honor them with a large party. It makes feted and feting.
The French word from which fete is derived has a circumflex over the first e—to make fête—but the mark is usually dropped in English. Either spelling is correct.
The word come from the Latin festum which meant festival.
Examples
The community association, chaired by parish councillor Tom Keane, was struggling and this summer’s fete had to be cancelled due to a lack of support. [Suffolk Free Press]
Two fetes, held in May and October, now take place each year to cater for the event’s ever-growing popularity. [Redditch Advertiser]
That becomes clear during a rollicking lunch as they fete a reporter at Hollywood’s Paramount Pictures studios, where “Marry Me” is produced. [The Washington Times]
The Thursday ceremony feting the new facility also indicated the swirl of cultures that has marked Goya’s rise. [Los Angeles Times]
Both of his star parents made space in their busy schedules to join Romeo, now 12, at a celebration feting the launch in London tonight. [Elle UK]
The team had already been feted in parades in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Santos, but Pelé was most excited to see his hometown. [Sydney Morning Herald]
FormerGeneral Electric CEO Jack Welch fetes a “very human book” full of secrets for success. [Forbes]
