vigil
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.”
How to use vigil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA period of watchful waiting, often overnight — or a solemn gathering, often with candles.
Word forms
vigiled past tense, vigilled past tense, vigils plural, vigils singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include vigil: