holy

[ hoh-lee ]

/ ˈhoʊ li /

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adjective, ho·li·er, ho·li·est.

specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated: holy ground.

dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion: a holy man.

saintly; godly; pious; devout: a holy life.

having a spiritually pure quality: a holy love.

entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred: a holy relic.

religious (def. 1): holy rites.

inspiring fear, awe, or grave distress: The director, when angry, is a holy terror.

(used in certain interjections to express surprise, bewilderment, or wonder, as in holy cow and holy smoke.)

noun, plural ho·lies.

a place of worship; sacred place; sanctuary.

OTHER WORDS FOR holy

1 blessed.

4 spiritual.

See synonyms for holy on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR holy

3, 4 corrupt, impious.

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QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of holy

First recorded before 900; Middle English holi, Old English hālig, variant of hāleg, equivalent to hāl whole + -eg -y¹; cognate with Dutch, German heilig, Old Norse heilagr

synonym study for holy

1. Holy, sacred, consecrated, hallowed imply possession of a sanctity that is the object of religious veneration. Holy refers to the divine, that which has its sanctity directly from God or is connected with Him: Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Something that is sacred, while sometimes accepted as entitled to religious veneration, may have its sanctity from human authority: a sacred oath. Something that is consecrated is specially or formally dedicated to some religious use: a life consecrated to service. Something that is hallowed has been made holy by being worshiped: a hallowed shrine.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH holy

holey, holy , wholly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use holy in a sentence

As a center of Christian antiquity, Mosul is considered by many Middle Eastern Christians to be one of their holiest cities.
ISIS Robs Christians Fleeing Its Edict in Mosul: Convert, Leave, or Die|Andrew Slater|July 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Jobar Synagogue was one of the holiest Jewish sites in Syria and contained priceless historical artifacts.
Exclusive Photos: Syria’s Oldest Synagogue, Destroyed by Assad|Josh Rogin|May 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Did the Virgin Mary Warn Rwanda's Holiest Town of the Genocide?
The Best of the Beast, April 21-April 27||April 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her whole life and being were dominated by these men—men who thought they were the holiest on earth.
How One Sex Abuse Case Tore Apart the Williamsburg Hasidim|Allison Yarrow|August 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Survey released ahead of Tisha B'Av also finds Western Wall still considered Judaism's holiest site.
Israel Attorney General To Chief Rabbi Hopeful: Explain Your Racism|Orly Halpern|July 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
This spot was, in former times, looked on as the holiest in the whole course of the river.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
I can only repeat that I fail to understand your extraordinary views of the holiest of human instincts.
The Daughters of Danaus|Mona Caird
Fines and imprisonment impend over us, for exercising one of the holiest charities of our religion.
The Duty of Disobedience to the Fugitive Slave Act|Lydia Maria Child
It was a trying journey, and after fierce days of desert hills the reaction might not always spare even the holiest memories.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
His face wore the holiest look it ever had known as he softly re-echoed Freckles' "All right."
Freckles|Gene Stratton-Porter

British Dictionary definitions for holy

holy

/ (ˈhəʊlɪ) /

adjective holier or holiest

of, relating to, or associated with God or a deity; sacred

endowed or invested with extreme purity or sublimity

devout, godly, or virtuous

holier-than-thou offensively sanctimonious or self-righteousa holier-than-thou attitude

holy terror

a difficult or frightening person
Irish informal a person who is an active gambler, womanizer, etc

noun plural -lies

a sacred place
the holy (functioning as plural) persons or things invested with holiness

Word Origin for holy

Old English hālig, hǣlig; related to Old Saxon hēlag, Gothic hailags, German heilig; see hallow

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

holy

OTHER WORDS FOR holy

OPPOSITES FOR holy

Origin of holy

synonym study for holy

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH holy

Words related to holy

How to use holy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for holy

Word Origin for holy