hallelujah
Americaninterjection
noun
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an exclamation of “hallelujah!”
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a shout of joy, praise, or gratitude.
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a musical composition wholly or principally based upon the word “hallelujah.”
interjection
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an exclamation of praise to God
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an expression of relief or a similar emotion
noun
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an exclamation of "Hallelujah"
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a musical composition that uses the word Hallelujah as its text
Etymology
Origin of hallelujah
First recorded in 1525–35; from Hebrew halĕlûyāh “praise Yahweh,” from halĕlû (masculine imperative plural of hīlēl “to praise”) + -yāh Yahweh
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It allowed me to sing hallelujah in the Lenten season,” referring to the run-up to Easter.
From Salon • Mar. 22, 2025
Allahu Akbar means God is great – the Muslim equivalent of hallelujah.
From BBC • Aug. 7, 2024
Animated horror films intended for adults don’t come around often these days, so I’m stoked to shout hallelujah for this very funny, stupidly gory horror-comedy from the “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” co-creator Matthew Maiellaro.
From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2023
To borrow from his lyrics, it was a cold and a broken hallelujah.
From Washington Times • May 15, 2023
I had a hard time containing my hallelujah shouts as I started to leave the room.
From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
