Meaning & use
extravaganza
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A large, lavish public event or performance, often designed to impress.
Grammar: Countable: a musical extravaganza, the extravaganza was huge.
Patterns
- a musical extravaganza
- a fireworks extravaganza
- a three-hour extravaganza
The city hosted a musical extravaganza with dozens of performers and a light show.
Thousands attended the fireworks extravaganza on New Year's Eve.
The fashion show was a three-hour extravaganza of music, dance, and design.
nouncountablefigurative
Something that is very elaborate, showy, or over-the-top in scale or style.
Grammar: Often used figuratively: a media extravaganza, an advertising extravaganza.
Patterns
- a media extravaganza
- an advertising extravaganza
- a publicity extravaganza
The product launch turned into a media extravaganza with celebrities and cameras.
The company's advertising extravaganza cost millions but drew huge attention.
The wedding was a three-day extravaganza that filled the local news.
Word forms
| plural | extravaganzas |
|---|
Common combinations
- musical extravaganza
- The musical extravaganza featured a full orchestra and dancers.
- fireworks extravaganza
- The fireworks extravaganza lit up the entire harbor.
- media extravaganza
- The trial became a media extravaganza with reporters from around the world.
- three-hour extravaganza
- The awards show was a three-hour extravaganza of speeches and performances.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spectacular
- Spectacular is a noun for a big, impressive show, often used in entertainment; extravaganza emphasizes lavishness and scale.
- gala
- A gala is a formal, festive event, often for charity; an extravaganza is more about being huge and showy.
- show
- Show is a general word for any performance; extravaganza suggests something much larger and more elaborate.
Word family
- extravagant adjective
- Spending too much or very elaborate.
- extravagantly adverb
- In an extravagant way.
Commonly confused: extravaganza or extravagant?
extravaganza vs extravagant
Extravagant is an adjective meaning spending too much or very showy; extravaganza is the noun for a big, showy event.
Practice
Which word best completes the sentence? 'The opening ceremony was a grand ______ with fireworks, music, and hundreds of performers.'
Choose one answer.
The blank needs a noun for a big, showy event, so 'extravaganza' is correct. 'Extravagant' is an adjective, 'extravagantly' is an adverb, and 'extravagance' is an uncountable noun meaning excessive spending.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “extravaganza”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.