banquet

1 of 2

noun

ban·​quet ˈbaŋ-kwət How to pronounce banquet (audio)
ˈban-,
 also  -ˌkwet
1
: a sumptuous feast
especially : an elaborate and often ceremonious meal for numerous people often in honor of a person
a state banquet
2
: a meal held in recognition of some occasion or achievement
an awards banquet

banquet

2 of 2

verb

banqueted; banqueting; banquets

intransitive verb

: to partake of a banquet
The night before, after a typical 12-hour workday, the president banqueted until nearly midnight …Spike Mafford

transitive verb

: to treat with a banquet : feast
They will be banqueting visiting dignitaries.
banqueter noun

Examples of banquet in a Sentence

Noun They held a banquet in his honor. prepared a celebratory banquet for the graduating class Verb banqueted the returning troops at the military base
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
There are two dining cars, one Western-style restaurant car for banquet dining and silver service and a more intimate Chinese-style restaurant car with booth seating. Nicole Trilivas, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 Its bursts of color come courtesy of mustard-yellow banquets and baby blue chairs. Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
These men seem to devote most of their time to cultivating relationships with government officials and gang bosses in teahouses, karaoke parlors, and banqueting clubs. John Osburg, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2014 But in many Western capitals the optics of the visit will look very different – two autocrats who have long described themselves as firm friends shaking hands and banqueting while a conflagration in Europe rages. Nectar Gan, CNN, 20 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for banquet 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French, from Old Italian banchetto, from diminutive of banca bench, bank

Verb

borrowed from Middle French banqueter, derivative of banquet banquet entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of banquet was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near banquet

Cite this Entry

“Banquet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/banquet. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

banquet

1 of 2 noun
ban·​quet ˈbaŋ-kwət How to pronounce banquet (audio)
ˈban-,
 also  -ˌkwet
: a formal dinner for many people often in honor of someone

banquet

2 of 2 verb
: to treat or be treated with a banquet : feast
banqueter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on banquet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!