vigil
Americannoun
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wakefulness or watchfulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping.
They passed many hours in vigil.
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a watch or a period of watchful attention maintained at night or at other times.
The nurse kept her vigil at the bedside of the dying man.
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a quiet demonstration to support a cause, protest an injustice, honor the dead, etc..
A candlelight vigil in remembrance of the two fallen officers will be held tonight at sundown.
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Ecclesiastical.
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Sometimes vigils a nocturnal devotional exercise or service, especially on the eve before a church festival.
The Easter vigil reflects on the holy sacraments as well as the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
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the eve, or day and night, before a church festival, especially an eve that is a fast.
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a period of wakefulness from inability to sleep.
noun
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a purposeful watch maintained, esp at night, to guard, observe, pray, etc
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the period of such a watch
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RC Church Church of England the eve of certain major festivals, formerly observed as a night spent in prayer: often marked by fasting and abstinence and a special Mass and divine office
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a period of sleeplessness; insomnia
Etymology
Origin of vigil
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English vigil(i)e, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin vigilia “eve of a holy day,” special use of Latin vigilia “watchfulness,” equivalent to vigil “sentry” + -ia -y 3
Explanation
A vigil is when you stay alert to guard something, as when you keep vigil over your hen house when the foxes are out. A vigil can also be solemn, as when a candlelight vigil is held for victims of a tragedy. Vigil comes from the Latin word for "awake," and all its meanings include the idea of watchfulness. If you're attending a vigil or keeping vigil, you shouldn't expect to take a nap. The vigil is an apt kind of demonstration for peace movements, as it's calm, non-violent, and solemn, with participants standing quietly — sometimes holding candles.
Vocabulary lists containing vigil
"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 19–24
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"My Wonder Horse," Vocabulary from the short story
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil will be held in the atrium of St Peter's Basilica.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
How did the idea for Vigil come to you?
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026
"We're not there yet. But we're currently developing a new space probe at ESA called Vigil which will be dedicated exclusively to improving our understanding of space weather," says the scientist.
From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026
For Jones, a new series of Vigil beckons, with filming in Scotland and Norway.
From BBC • Sep. 29, 2025
I could see Chavez shouting in Vigil’s face, and Vigil said nothing.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
