vigil

American  

[vij-uhl] / ˈvɪdʒ əl /

noun

1. wakefulness or watchfulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping.

   They passed many hours in vigil.

2. a watch or a period of watchful attention maintained at night or at other times.

   The nurse kept her vigil at the bedside of the dying man.

3. a quiet demonstration to support a cause, protest an injustice, honor the dead, etc..

   A candlelight vigil in remembrance of the two fallen officers will be held tonight at sundown.

4. Ecclesiastical.

   1. Sometimes vigils a nocturnal devotional exercise or service, especially on the eve before a church festival.

      The Easter vigil reflects on the holy sacraments as well as the resurrection and ascension of Christ.

   2. the eve, or day and night, before a church festival, especially an eve that is a fast.

5. a period of wakefulness from inability to sleep.

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vigil British  

/ ˈvɪdʒɪl /

noun

1. a purposeful watch maintained, esp at night, to guard, observe, pray, etc

2. the period of such a watch

3. RC Church Church of England the eve of certain major festivals, formerly observed as a night spent in prayer: often marked by fasting and abstinence and a special Mass and divine office

4. a period of sleeplessness; insomnia

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Etymology

Origin of vigil

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English vigil(i)e, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin vigilia “eve of a holy day,” special use of Latin vigilia “watchfulness,” equivalent to vigil “sentry” + -ia -y ³

Explanation

A vigil is when you stay alert to guard something, as when you keep vigil over your hen house when the foxes are out. A vigil can also be solemn, as when a candlelight vigil is held for victims of a tragedy. Vigil comes from the Latin word for "awake," and all its meanings include the idea of watchfulness. If you're attending a vigil or keeping vigil, you shouldn't expect to take a nap. The vigil is an apt kind of demonstration for peace movements, as it's calm, non-violent, and solemn, with participants standing quietly — sometimes holding candles.

Example Sentences

At a peace vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, Leo said that that a “delusion of omnipotence” is fueling the war that has left thousands dead.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Black Lives Matter L.A. has scheduled a Sunday vigil to honor him.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

The pope also announced that he would return to the basilica on 11 April to lead a prayer vigil for peace.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

The New York Times’ Adam Liptak described her role this way in 2019: “Justice Sonia Sotomayor … maintains a sort of vigil in the capital cases other justices treat as routine.”

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

Which is exactly the answer raining down upon this candle-lit vigil.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• observance
• patrol