hallelujah
Americaninterjection
noun
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hallelujahs
plural
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an exclamation of “hallelujah!”
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a shout of joy, praise, or gratitude.
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a musical composition wholly or principally based upon the word “hallelujah.”
interjection
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an exclamation of praise to God
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an expression of relief or a similar emotion
noun
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an exclamation of "Hallelujah"
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a musical composition that uses the word Hallelujah as its text
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of hallelujah
First recorded in 1525–35; from Hebrew halĕlûyāh “praise Yahweh,” from halĕlû (masculine imperative plural of hīlēl “to praise”) + -yāh Yahweh
Explanation
Hallelujah is both an exclamation –- Hallelujah! –- and what that act of exclaiming is called. When hallelujahs ring through the church, a lot of people are yelling "hallelujah!" Kind of like "bingo!" in the church basement. Hallelujah came into English through Latin and Greek, but originally comes from Hebrew, where it means "praise the lord." In spite of traveling through those languages, hallelujah's meaning has not changed. Remember that the "j" in hallelujah is pronounced like a "y."
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.
See Examples For:
An elderly England fan, probably close to the age I am now, 76, was serenading a group of supporters by singing, "Geoff Hurst scores for all the goals, hallelujah!"
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Viking god Erling Haaland gave a hallelujah to the briny magic of a Katz’s pastrami.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
It allowed me to sing hallelujah in the Lenten season,” referring to the run-up to Easter.
From Salon ● Mar. 22, 2025
Animated horror films intended for adults don’t come around often these days, so I’m stoked to shout hallelujah for this very funny, stupidly gory horror-comedy from the “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” co-creator Matthew Maiellaro.
From New York Times ● Jun. 23, 2023
I had a hard time containing my hallelujah shouts as I started to leave the room.
From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals
All around the country, choirs are singing hallelujahs in Handel’s “Messiah” and Scrooges are learning to replace bahs with blessings.
From New York Times ● Dec. 21, 2022
“I’m not getting out the hallelujahs yet that it’s the start of a long-term change,” Henig said.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2022
Now, meaning Monday afternoon, when Lincoln Riley shows up for his introductory news conference amid home runs, buzzer-beaters, Hail Marys and hallelujahs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 28, 2021
As if they wouldn’t have already been awakened by the accumulation of floor-shaking drum blasts and the choir’s crescendoing hallelujahs.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2019
Pastor Dames is quiet for a moment, letting his words sink in, letting the amens and hallelujahs echo throughout the sanctuary.
From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson
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.
