Halloween
noun
Hal·low·een
ˌha-lə-ˈwēn 
ˌhä-
ˌhä-
variants
or less commonly Hallowe'en
: October 31 observed especially with dressing up in disguise, trick-or-treating, and displaying jack-o'-lanterns during the evening
Examples of Halloween in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The popular attraction at the California park is reopening its spooky doors on July 29, just in time for Halloween and the holiday season, according to a Thursday announcement on the Disney Parks Instagram.
—
Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 26 July 2024
For over a decade, Midsummer Scream has been dishing out the treats for Halloween fans at all levels of horror tolerance.
—Scott Feinblatt, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
Famed magician Harry Houdini even paid a visit to the mansion around Halloween in 1924, hoping to debunk paranormal stories.
—Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 26 July 2024
The cast of the show also revealed during the panel that the show will release a Halloween special on Hulu later this year.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for Halloween 
Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 26 July 2024
For over a decade, Midsummer Scream has been dishing out the treats for Halloween fans at all levels of horror tolerance.
—Scott Feinblatt, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
Famed magician Harry Houdini even paid a visit to the mansion around Halloween in 1924, hoping to debunk paranormal stories.
—Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 26 July 2024
The cast of the show also revealed during the panel that the show will release a Halloween special on Hulu later this year.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for Halloween
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Cite this Entry
“Halloween.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Halloween. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Halloween
noun
Hal·low·een
ˌhal-ə-ˈwēn
ˌhäl-
ˌhäl-
: October 31 celebrated especially by wearing costumes, trick-or-treating, and displaying jack-o'-lanterns
Etymology
an altered form of All Hallow Even, the eve of All Saints' Day
Word Origin
Modern-day Christians know the first of November as All Saints' Day. In the Middle Ages it was called All Hallow Day. This was a hallowed or holy day celebrated in honor of all the saints in heaven. Since November 1 was a special holy day with a special name, the day before it had a special name as well. October 31 was called All Hallow Eve or All Hallow Even. The words eve and even were used both for the evening and the day before a special day. This name was sometimes written All Hallow E'en and later shortened to Halloween.
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