1
: the act of keeping awake at times when sleep is customary
also
: a period of wakefulness
2
: an event or a period of time when a person or group stays in a place and quietly waits, prays, etc., especially at night
a candlelight vigil
kept vigil at her bedside
3
a
: a watch formerly kept on the night before a religious feast with prayer or other devotions
b
: the day before a religious feast observed as a day of spiritual preparation
c
: evening or nocturnal devotions or prayers
—usually used in plural
Examples of vigil in a Sentence
kept vigil at their ailing son's bedside the entire time he was in the hospital
Recent Examples on the Web
At that same protest Saturday night in Tel Aviv, a few dozen held a kind of vigil for children killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, holding photos of them in the crowd along with memorial candles.
—
Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Mar. 2025
In a separate Facebook post, while identifying the victim on March 22, police confirmed that a candlelit vigil would be taking place on Saturday, March 29, at 7 p.m. at Wooton Park in Downtown Tavares to honor Xavier's life.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Members of her congregation kept up the weekly vigil until COVID hit.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2025
These dwarves are sweeties for keeping a vigil besides Snow White.
71.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vigil
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Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Mar. 2025
In a separate Facebook post, while identifying the victim on March 22, police confirmed that a candlelit vigil would be taking place on Saturday, March 29, at 7 p.m. at Wooton Park in Downtown Tavares to honor Xavier's life.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Members of her congregation kept up the weekly vigil until COVID hit.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2025
These dwarves are sweeties for keeping a vigil besides Snow White.
71.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vigil
Cite this Entry
“Vigil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vigil. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vigil
noun
vig·il
ˈvij-əl 
1
a
: the day before a religious feast
b
: prayers or religious services held in the evening or at night
—usually used in plural
2
: an act or period of staying awake at times when one normally would be sleeping
an all-night vigil spent awaiting her return
3
: an act or period of attentive watching : watch
kept vigil at the bedside of his ill son
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