noun
Uncommon
vigil
VIHD-zhuhl
Vigil (noun) means a period of staying awake, often at night, to watch, pray, or keep guard. Example: “Family members held a vigil at the hospital bedside all night.”
noun
1
A period of staying awake, often at night, to watch, pray, or keep guard.
"Family members held a vigil at the hospital bedside all night."
"A vigil was held for Ms. Cheptegei on Wednesday night, Ms. Indimuli said, with many women praying that she would survive."
— Isabella Kwai, Rebecca Cheptegei, Olympic Runner From Uganda, Dies After Gasoline Attack (2024)
"Mortenson, who asked to use a pseudonym for this story, says she has been attending rallies and vigils in her home state to regain her optimism, but she’s finding it tough."
— Nico Lang, “Simply Trying to Exist (2025)
2
A quiet public gathering held to show support for a cause or to mourn someone.
"The protesters kept vigil outside the conference centre in which the party congress was being held."
"Hundreds attended the candlelight vigil for the victims."
How to use vigil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA period of watchful waiting, often overnight — or a solemn gathering, often with candles.
Common pairings
hold a vigil
candlelight vigil
keep vigil
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Word forms
- Plural
- vigils
- Third person singular
- vigils
- Past tense
- vigiled, vigilled
Fill the gap
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Family members held a _____ at the hospital bedside all night.
Etymology
From Latin vigilia ("wakefulness, a watch"), from vigil ("awake") — the same root that gives us "vigilant" and "vigour."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “vigil” mean?
The word “vigil” means a period of staying awake, often at night, to watch, pray, or keep guard. In plain terms, a period of watchful waiting, often overnight — or a solemn gathering, often with candles.
How do you pronounce “vigil”?
“Vigil” is pronounced VIHD-zhuhl (/ˈvɪd͡ʒəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “vigil” in a sentence?
Here is “vigil” used in a sentence: “Family members held a vigil at the hospital bedside all night.”
What part of speech is “vigil”?
“Vigil” is a noun.
Where does the word “vigil” come from?
The word “vigil” comes from Latin. From Latin vigilia ("wakefulness, a watch"), from vigil ("awake") — the same root that gives us "vigilant" and "vigour.".
Is “vigil” a common word?
“Vigil” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “vigil” have?
“Vigil” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a period of staying awake, often at night, to watch, pray, or keep guard.
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