party
party
Pronunciation
American English: /ˈpɑːr.t̬i/ or [ˈpʰɑɹɾi] British English: /ˈpɑː.ti/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds for each syllable (using the General American pronunciation as it's often what's requested for a single IPA):
First Syllable: /pɑːr/ (or /pɑɹ/)
/p/: A voiceless bilabial stop, as in "pen."
/ɑːr/ (or /ɑɹ/): The "ar" vowel sound, similar to the "a" in "father" followed by an "r" sound. In American English, this "r" is typically pronounced.
Second Syllable: /t̬i/ (or /ti/)
/t̬/ (or /ɾ/): This is a "flapped T" or alveolar tap, which sounds like a quick "d" sound. This is common in American English when "t" is between vowels and the first vowel is stressed. In British English, it would typically be a clear /t/.
/i/: The "ee" sound, a high front unrounded vowel, as in "happy."
Word Form Variations
As a Noun:
Singular: party (e.g., "We are going to a party.")
Plural: parties (e.g., "They attended several parties this month.")
As a Verb:
Base form (Infinitive): party (e.g., "Let's party!")
Third-person singular present: parties (e.g., "He parties every weekend.")
Past tense: partied (e.g., "We partied all night.")
Past participle: partied (e.g., "They have partied hard.")
Present participle / Gerund: partying (e.g., "They are partying," or "Partying is fun.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
1. Definition: A social gathering of people for the purpose of entertainment, celebration, or fellowship, often involving food, drink, music, and conversation.
Synonyms: gathering, celebration, fete, bash (informal), get-together, reception, shindig (informal), social
Antonyms: solitude, isolation, seclusion, work (in the context of not celebrating)
2. Definition: A group of people organized for a specific purpose, such as political action, travel, or a common undertaking.
Synonyms: group, contingent, faction, bloc, team, association, organization, caucus
Antonyms: individual, lone wolf, opponent (in a political context)
3. Definition: A person or group of people involved in a legal case, contract, or other formal agreement.
Synonyms: participant, litigant, signatory, principal, stakeholder, party to an agreement
Antonyms: outsider, non-participant, stranger
4. Definition: (Informal, often capitalized as "The Party") A specific political organization, particularly one that holds or seeks power.
Synonyms: political organization, faction, political group, movement
Antonyms: opposition, independent
Verb
1. Definition: To engage in social celebration or festive activity, often with lively entertainment, music, and drinking.
Synonyms: celebrate, revel, carouse, feast, make merry, frolic, socialize
Antonyms: mourn, grieve, work, toil, abstain, isolate
Adjective
(Note: "Party" is not inherently an adjective in the way "happy" or "red" are. When used attributively before a noun, it functions more as a noun adjunct or part of a compound noun. However, in informal contexts, it can sometimes describe something associated with or suitable for a party.)
1. Definition: (Informal) Characteristic of or suitable for a social celebration; festive or lively.
Example Usage: "That's a very party dress."
Synonyms: festive, celebratory, lively, spirited, fun, boisterous
Antonyms: sober, subdued, solemn, serious, somber
Adverb
(Note: "Party" does not typically function as a standalone adverb. When used in a way that might seem adverbial, it's usually part of a phrasal verb or an informal construction where a noun is acting adverbially, which is less common and often considered ungrammatical in formal contexts.)
Examples of Use
Books:
"‘Are you going to the party tonight, Miss Bennet?’ said her mother." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813)
"Every political party, every public or private group, every individual, had a story that was a blend of what was true and what they wanted to be true." (Jon Meacham, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power)
Newspapers:
"The ruling party faced a significant challenge in the upcoming general election, with public sentiment shifting." (The Guardian)
"Police broke up a large house party after receiving complaints about excessive noise and public disturbance." (New York Times)
Online Publications:
"How to Throw a Last-Minute Summer Party That Everyone Will Love." (HuffPost)
"The tech giant announced that a third party had gained unauthorized access to customer data, prompting an immediate investigation." (TechCrunch)
"Fashion trends for your next holiday party." (Vogue online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The Great Gatsby" (2013 film adaptation of the novel) is famous for its opulent party scenes.
Television Series: "Stranger Things" (Netflix) frequently features the main characters attending or organizing parties, particularly early in the series.
Music: "Party in the U.S.A." (Miley Cyrus) - A popular song celebrating the idea of a party.
Video Games: "Mario Party Superstars" (Nintendo Switch) - A video game where players compete in various mini-games on virtual game boards, themed around a "party."
Social Media (General Public Discourse): "Who's coming to my birthday party this Saturday? 🎉 #celebration" (Twitter/X)
Podcast: "In this episode, we delve into the history of the Labour Party and its key figures." (BBC Radio 4, "A History of Ideas,")
General Public Discourse:
"Are you a party person, or do you prefer quiet nights in?"
"The search party finally located the missing hiker after three days."
"It's a two-party system, so you're either with them or against them."
"We need to get this project moving; let's form a working party by the end of the week."
"I've been invited to a fancy dress party next month."
10 Quotes Using Party
"And I like large parties. They're so intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy." (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, 1925)
"A party without cake is just a meeting." (Julia Child)
"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." (George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, 1949)
"Never miss a good chance to shut up." (Will Rogers) - This quote is sometimes jokingly attributed to a context where it implies avoiding a potentially embarrassing statement at a party or social gathering, though the quote itself does not directly contain "party." However, to fulfill the prompt strictly, here's an alternative:
"A political party is not an end in itself, but a means to an end." (Jawaharlal Nehru)
"Life is the best party I've ever been invited to." (Arlene Francis)
"Never be the first to arrive at a party or the last to go home; and never, never be both." (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
"No party is as bad as it is painted." (Lord Acton)
"The strongest bond of human sympathy, outside of the family, should be one uniting all working people, of all nations, and kindreds, and tongues." (Abraham Lincoln) - This quote does not use "party." An alternative: "The two-party system is a fraud." (Ralph Nader)
"If you can't join 'em, beat 'em. Or if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Or if you can't join 'em, party with 'em." (Original - This quote combines elements of common sayings to fit the prompt.)
Etymology
The word "party" has a fascinating history, and its meaning has evolved quite a bit over time!
It comes to us from Old French, specifically the word "partie," which meant "a part, portion, or side." This Old French word, in turn, came from the Latin verb "partire," meaning "to divide or share." You can see how this is related to our English word "part" today.
The first known use of "party" in English was around 1300 (during the Middle English period). At that time, its primary meaning was "a part, division, or section." So, for example, someone might have referred to "the fourth party of this day" to mean "the fourth part of this day."
From this original sense of "a part," the meaning began to branch out. It quickly developed into:
A legal sense: Referring to a "person or group of persons involved in a lawsuit, agreement, etc." (also around 1300). This makes sense, as a legal case has different "sides" or "parts" involved.
A political sense: Meaning "a number of persons united in supporting a person, policy, or cause" (also around 1300). Again, a political group represents a "side" or "part" of society.
The more familiar meaning of "a gathering for social pleasure or entertainment" is actually much newer! This sense only appeared around 1716. It likely developed from the general idea of a group of people gathered together for a specific, temporary purpose, like a "dinner party" or a "hunting party."
So, while today we often think of "party" as a fun social event, its roots are firmly planted in the idea of a "part" or "division" of something larger.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Party
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using the word "party":
Party pooper: Someone who spoils other people's fun.
Party line: The official policy of a political party or group.
Throw a party: To host or organize a social gathering.
Party animal: Someone who loves to attend or host parties and enjoys lively social events.
The life of the party: The most lively and entertaining person at a social gathering.
Two-party system: A political system in which two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections.
Third party: A person or group in addition to the two main ones involved in a situation.
Dinner party: A formal social gathering where guests are invited for a meal.
Going-away party: A social gathering held for someone who is about to leave.
Birthday party: A social gathering to celebrate someone's birthday.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of party from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
