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

Between the pomp surrounding donning one’s holy livery, pointed glares and swishing red silks and velvets, these cassocked clergymen make bored teenagers seem kind.

From Salon

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

Related Words

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