holy

[ hoh-lee ]

adjective

, ho·li·er, ho·li·est.

1. specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated:

   holy ground.

   Synonyms: blessed

2. dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion:

   a holy man.

3. saintly; godly; pious; devout:

   a holy life.

   Antonyms: impious, corrupt

4. having a spiritually pure quality:

   a holy love.

   Synonyms: spiritual

   Antonyms: impious, corrupt

5. entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred:

   a holy relic.

6. religious ( def 1 ):

   holy rites.

7. inspiring fear, awe, or grave distress:

   The director, when angry, is a holy terror.

8. (used in certain interjections to express surprise, bewilderment, or wonder, as in holy cow and holy smoke. )

noun

, plural ho·lies.

1. a place of worship; sacred place; sanctuary.

holy

/ ˈhəʊlɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or associated with God or a deity; sacred
2. endowed or invested with extreme purity or sublimity
3. devout, godly, or virtuous
4. holier-than-thou
   offensively sanctimonious or self-righteous

   a holier-than-thou attitude

5. holy terror
   1. a difficult or frightening person
   2. a person who is an active gambler, womanizer, etc

noun

1. 1. a sacred place
   2. functioning as plural persons or things invested with holiness

Word History and Origins

Origin of holy¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English holi, Old English hālig, variant of hāleg, equivalent to hāl whole + -eg -y ¹; cognate with Dutch, German heilig, Old Norse heilagr

Word History and Origins

Origin of holy¹

Old English hālig, hǣlig; related to Old Saxon hēlag, Gothic hailags, German heilig; see hallow

Synonym Study

Holy, sacred, consecrated, hallowed imply possession of a sanctity that is the object of religious veneration. Holy refers to the divine, that which has its sanctity directly from God or is connected with Him: Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Something that is sacred, while sometimes accepted as entitled to religious veneration, may have its sanctity from human authority: a sacred oath. Something that is consecrated is specially or formally dedicated to some religious use: a life consecrated to service. Something that is hallowed has been made holy by being worshiped: a hallowed shrine.

Example Sentences

Nicknamed "the grand complication", it is believed to be the most valuable watch in the world, and represents something of a holy grail for horologists.

From BBC

Chinese emperors once came to this Ming dynasty holy site to pray for a good harvest.

From BBC

France in turn was angered when two French officials were briefly detained by Israeli authorities at a holy site in East Jerusalem that is under French administration.

From BBC

She said her government will stand by Russia until it prevails in Ukraine, calling it a “holy war,” and accused South Korea and the United States of planning a nuclear attack on North Korea.

From Los Angeles Times

"The most important thing I’ve got is a holy water sprinkler... The idea is that water is blessed and it’s then quite literally sprinkled around the house."

From BBC

Related Words

• divine
• hallowed
• humble
• pure
• revered
• righteous
• spiritual
• sublime