festival

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "festival" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a celebration or event, often involving music, food, and cultural activities. Example: "The annual music festival attracts thousands of visitors from around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nevertheless, Behind the Candelabra screened as a competition entry at the Cannes film festival in May, and later debuted in UK cinemas.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Pedro Almodovar's All About My Mother is the favourite for best foreign film, having cleaned up on the festival circuit and won a Golden Globe to boot.

The Guardian - Film

The Museums at Night festival, now in its seventh year, has gone from just 50 events to 650, all hosted at night and often under the stars.

The Guardian

Related: Museums at Night 2015 – a weekend of nocturnal activities "The idea has always been to get institutions to think about doing something different with their venues and different ways to attract audiences they wouldn't usually reach," said Nick Stockman, the festival campaign manager.

The Guardian

With events taking place at venues ranging from tiny, niche museums in Orkney and Norfolk to national giants such at the Natural History Museum and the V&A, the founding ethos of the festival is to celebrate the diverse and often quirky cultural landscape of Britain and to give a voice and platform to smaller institutions.

The Guardian

It's a view echoed by Laura Crossley, who coordinates a cluster of 18 museums and sites across north Norfolk all taking part in the late-night festival.

The Guardian

As part of the UK's largest after-hours cultural festival, more than 500 museums, galleries and heritage sites across the country are turning nocturnal this weekend, inviting the public to experience their collections and history after dark.

The Guardian

An apocryphal story says that a few days earlier, the then 22-year-old was at the Cannes film festival, leaving a screening of Steven Soderbergh's sex, lies and videotape.

The Guardian - Film

The ancient Zoroastrian festival marking the spring equinox, Nowruz, which started on Saturday, encompasses the revered tradition of Eid-Didani, or visiting one another.

The Guardian

The after-dark madness that congregates around the fantasy areas of Shangri-la and Arcadia will be given more room than ever this year, with the festival ploughing in an extra £200,000 into the area, increasing its size by 10 acres.

The Guardian - Music

The scope of the festival also revealed its international pulling power, he said.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "festival", be specific about its purpose or theme to provide context and engage your audience.

Common error

Avoid simply calling something a "festival" without specifying its unique characteristics or cultural significance. Provide details that differentiate it from other similar events.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "festival" is as a noun, referring to an event or gathering, typically one celebrated by a community and focusing on a particular theme, as demonstrated by the examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "festival" is a commonly used noun that refers to a celebratory event or gathering, often with a specific theme. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in a variety of contexts, especially news and media. When writing about a "festival", it's best to be specific about its theme or purpose to engage the audience. Alternatives include "celebration" or "event", though these may lack the cultural and celebratory connotations of "festival".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Celebration

Focuses on the joyous aspect of an event.

Event

A broader term that encompasses any organized activity.

Annual celebration

Highlights the recurrence of the event each year.

Fete

A small, local festival, often for charity.

Community gathering

Emphasizes the social aspect of the event.

Gala

Suggests a formal and often charitable event.

Fair

Implies a gathering for entertainment and commerce.

Extravaganza

Highlights the grand and elaborate nature of an event.

Carnival

Conveys a festive and often rowdy atmosphere.

Pageant

A more elaborate and often historical display.

FAQs

How to use "festival" in a sentence?

You can use "festival" to describe a variety of events. For example, "The music festival attracts thousands of people", or "The town hosts an annual film festival".

What can I say instead of "festival"?

You can use alternatives like "celebration", "event", or "gathering", depending on the context.

Which is correct: "music festival" or "festival of music"?

Both "music festival" and "festival of music" are correct, but "music festival" is more common and concise. The choice depends on the desired emphasis and style.

What's the difference between a "festival" and a "conference"?

A "festival" is typically a celebration or gathering focused on cultural or artistic activities, while a "conference" is a more formal meeting for discussion and exchange of information, often in a professional or academic context.