Synonyms

Christmas Eve

American

noun

the evening or the day preceding Christmas.

Christmas Eve British

noun

the evening or the whole day before Christmas Day

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Christmas Eve

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

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.

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Christmas Eve

Pearce Quigley, who played Danebury Metal Detecting Club member Russell in “Detectorists” stars as Michael Sleep, whose life has been on pause since his girlfriend, Clea, disappeared on Christmas Eve seven years earlier.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

Flying on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day tends to be cheaper than flying on the days surrounding the holidays.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

The highest tides are expected to hit on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Jan. 22.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

In 2010, he started an annual Christmas Eve busk in Dublin City Centre, which attracted high-profile musicians including Sinéad O'Connor and Shane McGowan.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Mother scored the coup of having the Reverend come to our house for supper following the Christmas Eve services.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023