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Holy Week

American  

noun

  1. the week preceding Easter Sunday.


Holy Week British  

noun

  1. the week preceding Easter Sunday

"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 Holy Week

1700–10; translation of Italian settimana santa

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.

In March, Leo XIV spoke out against those who advocate war in a speech marking the start of Holy Week, in the shadow of the ongoing Iran War.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

The names of the prisoners in the Holy Week release haven’t been made public, and it isn’t known how many have been freed in the 10 days since the dictatorship agreed to let them go.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

"I think that the high fuel prices that I have to pay to be here are just part of my sacrifices this Holy Week," Margate told AFP.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

However, he welcomed Israeli government efforts to address the situation and facilitate other Holy Week activities.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Not counting Holy Week, Sundays, holy days of obligation, first Fridays, retreats, sacrifices, and cyclical impediments, her effective year was reduced to forty-two days that were spread out through a web of purple crosses.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez