the festivities are underway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the festivities are underway" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that celebrations or events are currently happening or in progress. Example: "As the sun set, the festivities are underway, with music and laughter filling the air."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But as a child, the Little Ice Age cast snow over the landscape and froze the Thames, making way for raucous frost fairs on the ice in central London.This December birthday festivities are underway for John Milton, who was born 400 winters ago and fled the London plague for the quiet of Chalfont St Giles, where he finished "Paradise Lost".

The Economist

The festivities are at 630 10th Ave.

Vice

The rest of the festivities are better viewed than described.

Los Angeles Times

You can eat what remains after the festivities are over!

WikiHow

The festivities were forgotten.

The New York Times - Sports

Self-aware the festivities were not.

The Guardian - Sport

Also accompanying the festivities is this podcast.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Here, the festivities being envisioned are more modest.

The New York Times

The festivities were not without some goofing at competitors' expense.

BBC

The festivities were relaxed and upbeat.

Los Angeles Times

The official tune for the festivities was 'Wash your hands!

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the festivities are underway" to signal the beginning of a planned celebration or event, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "the festivities are underway" in highly formal or technical writing. While grammatically sound, it may sound too celebratory for serious or somber occasions. Opt for more neutral phrases like "the events are in progress."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the festivities are underway" functions as an announcement or statement, indicating that a planned celebration or event has begun. It sets the scene and signals the start of enjoyable activities. Although Ludwig doesn't have exact matches, the context from similar examples supports this function.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the festivities are underway" is a grammatically correct phrase used to announce the start of a celebration or event. Ludwig indicates that it serves to inform and excite the audience, setting a positive tone. It is generally neutral in register, suitable for news announcements and event descriptions, though it can be informal depending on the context. Related phrases include "the celebrations have begun" and "the events are in progress". While Ludwig doesn't have exact matches for the query, the analysis suggests it's a usable phrase in appropriate contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the celebrations have begun

This alternative replaces "festivities" with "celebrations" and uses a different verb tense, indicating the start of the event.

the events are in progress

This option uses broader terms like "events" instead of "festivities" and "in progress" in place of "underway", focusing on the action.

the party is starting

This version simplifies the language, making it more informal and focusing on a specific type of festivity.

the fun is starting

This alternative emphasizes the enjoyable aspect of the event that is beginning.

the games have commenced

This suggests a more formal or organized beginning, such as a competition or series of activities.

the curtain is rising

This alternative is metaphorical, suggesting the beginning of a performance or show.

the show has begun

Similar to "the curtain is rising", this suggests a performance or planned event has started.

things are kicking off

A more informal and energetic way of saying something is starting, suitable for casual contexts.

let the good times roll

An idiomatic expression indicating the beginning of a period of enjoyment and celebration.

the ball is rolling

This idiom suggests that preparations are complete and the activity has begun smoothly.

FAQs

What does "the festivities are underway" mean?

It means that a celebration or series of events has started and is currently in progress.

How can I use "the festivities are underway" in a sentence?

You can use it to announce the commencement of a celebration, like: "As the clock struck midnight, the festivities are underway".

What can I say instead of "the festivities are underway"?

You can use alternatives like "the celebrations have begun" or "the events are in progress".

Is "the festivities are underway" formal or informal?

It leans towards a neutral to slightly formal tone, suitable for announcements and written content but less so for highly technical or somber contexts.