Merrymaking: meaning, definitions and examples

Merrymaking refers to joy and fun activities, typically in a social context. It's informal and centers on having a good time with others, often involving music, dancing, and laughter.

• The village square was filled with merrymaking during the summer festival.
• After the wedding, the merrymaking continued well into the night.

Celebration is used to describe the formal or informal act of honoring an event, person, or achievement. This can include parties, ceremonies, and other joyous activities.

• The company held a big celebration for its 50th anniversary.
• They had a small celebration at home for her birthday.

Festivity refers to a broader scope of organized and enjoyable activities often associated with holidays or festivals. It involves a series of joyous events or celebrations.

• The Christmas festivities included carol singing and gift exchanges.
• Festivities began early in the morning and lasted all day.

Revelry indicates engaging in loud and lively activities, often during nighttime events or parties. It can sometimes imply excessive drinking or rowdy behavior, which carries a slightly negative connotation.

• The sounds of revelry could be heard throughout the neighborhood on New Year's Eve.
• After the soccer match, fans indulged in hours of revelry downtown.

Redundant entry matching the first word; no distinct additional explanation required.

• Redundant entry—same examples as provided for the first 'merrymaking
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Festivities refer to the events and activities organized to celebrate a special occasion or holiday. This term is often used in a broader or more formal context, encompassing various planned events, such as parades, concerts, and cultural performances.

• The city's festivities for New Year's Eve include fireworks, music, and dancing
• The national festivities attracted tourists from around the world

Joyful celebrations highlight the emotional aspect of happiness and joy in a celebratory setting. This phrase can be used in both formal and informal contexts to emphasize the positive emotions experienced during the event.

• The joyful celebrations of the team's victory lasted all night
• The village held joyful celebrations for the successful harvest season

Appropriate for situations involving joyful celebrations and gatherings, often used in a general or formal context.

• They spent the night in merrymaking, celebrating the holiday season.
• The festival was full of merrymaking, with music, dancing, and laughter.

Typically used to describe boisterous and often drunken partying. It has a slightly negative connotation, suggesting excessive or uncontrolled behavior.

• They were out carousing until the early hours of the morning.
• The tavern was a place for sailors to spend their nights carousing and telling old tales.

Best used when referring to lively and joyous celebrations, with a literary or slightly poetic tone. Combines the idea of laughter (mirthful) with exuberant partying (revelry).

• The wedding was a scene of mirthful revelry, with guests dancing and laughing all night long.
• The sound of mirthful revelry filled the air, as the village celebrated its annual festival.