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
Mourners gather for a candlelight vigil in the parking lot of the Mad Butcher grocery store where a makeshift memorial — including crosses, flowers and candles — was set up next to honor the victims.
—
CBS News, 28 June 2024
The school is planning a memorial vigil for Lovell.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 10 June 2024
The vigil was expected to commemorate his life and continue the fight to raise awareness of the dangers people living on the street face, according to an announcement by the family.
—Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 25 May 2024
On June 4, the park that used to hold the vigil will be occupied by a carnival held by pro-Beijing groups.
—Kanis Leung and Tian MacLeod Ji, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for vigil 
CBS News, 28 June 2024
The school is planning a memorial vigil for Lovell.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 10 June 2024
The vigil was expected to commemorate his life and continue the fight to raise awareness of the dangers people living on the street face, according to an announcement by the family.
—Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 25 May 2024
On June 4, the park that used to hold the vigil will be occupied by a carnival held by pro-Beijing groups.
—Kanis Leung and Tian MacLeod Ji, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for vigil
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vigil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near vigil
Cite this Entry
“Vigil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vigil. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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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