Meal vs. Feast: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 9, 2023
A "meal" is a regular occasion when food is eaten, while a "feast" is a lavish spread or celebration often involving abundant food and drink.
Difference Between Meal and Feast
"Meal" and "feast" are both associated with eating, but they carry different connotations and levels of magnitude. A "meal" is a routine event, a part of our daily lives. We have meals to satisfy our hunger and to fuel our bodies. Meals can be simple or elaborate, but they are generally seen as a necessity. For instance, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are the standard meals that structure our day.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
Contrastingly, a "feast" conjures up images of grandeur, celebration, and abundance. A feast is not just about satiating hunger; it's an event. Often linked with festivals, holidays, and special occasions, feasts are meant to be shared with a large number of people. The food at a feast is typically abundant and may include dishes that aren't commonly eaten on a daily basis.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
However, it's important to note that the lines between a meal and a feast can sometimes blur. A particularly luxurious dinner might feel like a feast, even if it's just a regular meal for someone. Similarly, what one person considers a feast might be a regular meal for another, especially across different cultures and traditions.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023
Still, when differentiating the two, one can look at the intent and context. If the primary purpose is nourishment and it's a part of a daily routine, it's likely a meal. But if there's an air of celebration, with an abundance of food and drink, and perhaps a gathering of people, it leans more towards being a feast.
Nolan
Sep 09, 2023
Meal vs. Feast Comparison Chart
Frequency
Daily occurrences like breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Often linked to special occasions or holidays
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
Common Contexts
Daily life, regular eating routine
Festivals, holidays, grand celebrations
Elijah
Sep 09, 2023
Meal vs. Feast Definitions
◉Meal
An instance of eating, often at a specific time.
We had a late-night meal after the show.
Elijah
Sep 09, 2023
◉Feast
A grand meal celebrating a special occasion.
The wedding ended with a magnificent feast.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
◉Meal
The food consumed during one sitting.
The meal consisted of soup and a sandwich.
Elijah
Sep 09, 2023
◉Feast
A ceremonial dinner commemorating a particular event.
The village held a feast to honor the harvest.
Jonathan
Sep 09, 2023
◉Meal
A regular eating occasion during a day.
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
◉Feast
An experience of great pleasure or delight.
The art gallery was a feast for the eyes.
Olivia
Sep 09, 2023
◉Meal
Any of the customary occasions for eating.
We usually have three meals a day.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023
◉Feast
A meal that is well-prepared and abundantly enjoyed.
Every dish at the restaurant felt like a feast.
Lucas
Sep 09, 2023
◉Feast
A large, elaborately prepared meal, usually for many persons and often accompanied by entertainment; a banquet.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
A periodic religious festival commemorating an event or honoring a god or saint.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
Something giving great pleasure or satisfaction
a book that is a veritable feast for the mind.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
To give a feast for; entertain or feed sumptuously
feasted the guests on venison.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
To experience something with gratification or delight
feasted on the view.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Meal
(countable) Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity (as opposed to a snack).
Breakfast is the morning meal, lunch is the noon meal, and dinner, or supper, is the evening meal.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
A very large meal, often of a ceremonial nature.
We had a feast to celebrate the harvest.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
A festival; a holy day or holiday; a solemn, or more commonly, a joyous, anniversary.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
(intransitive) To partake in a feast, or large meal.
I feasted on turkey and dumplings.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Meal
The coarse-ground edible part of various grains often used to feed animals; flour or a coarser blend than flour.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
(transitive) To hold a feast in honor of (someone).
We feasted them after the victory.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
A festival; a holiday; a solemn, or more commonly, a joyous, anniversary.
The seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
A festive or joyous meal; a grand, ceremonious, or sumptuous entertainment, of which many guests partake; a banquet characterized by tempting variety and abundance of food.
Enough is as good as a feast.
Belshazzar the King made a great feast to a thousand of his lords.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
That which is partaken of, or shared in, with delight; something highly agreeable; entertainment.
The feast of reason, and the flow of soul.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Meal
The portion of food taken at a particular time for the satisfaction of appetite; the quantity usually taken at one time with the purpose of satisfying hunger; a repast; the act or time of eating a meal; as, the traveler has not eaten a good meal for a week; there was silence during the meal.
What strange fishHath made his meal on thee?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
To eat sumptuously; to dine or sup on rich provisions, particularly in large companies, and on public festivals.
And his sons went and feasted in their houses.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Meal
Grain (esp. maize, rye, or oats) that is coarsely ground and unbolted; also, a kind of flour made from beans, pease, etc.; sometimes, any flour, esp. if coarse.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
To be highly gratified or delighted.
With my love's picture then my eye doth feast.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Meal
Any substance that is coarsely pulverized like meal, but not granulated.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
To entertain with sumptuous provisions; to treat at the table bountifully; as, he was feasted by the king.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
To delight; to gratify; as, to feast the soul.
Feast your ears with the music a while.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Meal
any of the occasions for eating food that occur by custom or habit at more or less fixed times
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Feast
a meal that is well prepared and greatly enjoyed;
a banquet for the graduating seniors
the Thanksgiving feast
they put out quite a spread
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Meal
coarsely ground foodstuff; especially seeds of various cereal grasses or pulse
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Meal
A portion of food serving as a person's intake.
I prefer a light meal before exercising.
Elijah
Sep 09, 2023
◉Feast
A periodic observance with abundant food and drink.
Thanksgiving is a traditional American feast.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023
Meal vs. Feast Frequently Asked Questions
Can a meal be considered a feast?
Yes, if it's particularly luxurious or celebratory, a meal can feel like a feast.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023
Is a feast always associated with a large gathering?
While often associated with gatherings, a feast can be enjoyed by an individual or a smaller group.
Henry
Sep 09, 2023
Do all cultures have the same meals?
No, meal types and timings can vary across cultures.
Kaitlyn
Sep 09, 2023
Can breakfast, lunch, or dinner be considered a feast?
Yes, any meal can be considered a feast if it's grand or celebratory in nature.
Olivia
Sep 09, 2023
Is a feast always about food?
While food is central, a feast can also refer to an abundance of other delights, like visual or auditory feasts.
Lucas
Sep 09, 2023
How does a feast typically differ from a regular meal?
A feast is often more abundant and celebratory than a regular meal.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
Is the food at a feast different from regular meals?
Often, but not always, feasts may include dishes not commonly eaten daily.
Kaitlyn
Sep 09, 2023
What is the primary purpose of a meal?
The primary purpose of a meal is nourishment.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
Why might someone have a feast?
Feasts are typically held to celebrate special occasions, holidays, or significant milestones.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023
Which word implies a more everyday occurrence?
"Meal" implies a more everyday or routine occurrence.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
