Cool MateFeast vs Supper
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Feast
Top 3,000 (common)
Supper
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Feast
| Feast | Supper | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fiːst//🇺🇸 //fiːst// | 🇬🇧 //ˈsʌpə//🇺🇸 //ˈsʌpɚ// |
| Meaning | A big meal with lots of food. | The evening meal. |
| Example | The family gathered to enjoy a grand feast for Thanksgiving. | We have supper at six every evening. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | feast on, lavish feast, feast day, celebratory feast | have supper, prepare supper, supper time |
| Antonyms | fast, starvation, hunger | breakfast, lunch |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'fast' - a feast is about eating, while a fast is about not eating., Using 'feast' with non-food items - it typically refers to food., Overusing 'feast' for regular meals - it's for large, special events. | Confused with 'dinner' in some cultures., Used inappropriately in casual conversation., Mispronounced as 'sup-pr'. |
| Usage notes | Used for special occasions. More formal than 'meal'. Suitable for celebrations, but less common in daily conversations. | Used for a meal in the evening, often more formal than 'dinner'. Not commonly used in all English-speaking regions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Feast vs Supper
What's the difference between Feast and Supper?
Feast: A big meal with lots of food. Supper: The evening meal.
Which is more common: Feast and Supper?
Feast is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Feast: The family gathered to enjoy a grand feast for Thanksgiving. Supper: We have supper at six every evening.
Can I use Feast and Supper interchangeably?
Not always. Feast and Supper are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.