holy

adjective

ho·​ly ˈhō-lē 

holier; holiest

1

: exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness

2

: divine

for the Lord our God is holy

—Psalms 99:9 (King James Version)

3

: devoted entirely to the deity or the work of the deity

a holy temple

holy prophets

4

a

: having a divine quality

holy love

b

: venerated as or as if sacred

holy scripture

a holy relic

5

—used as an intensive

this is a holy mess

he was a holy terror when he drank

—Thomas Wolfe

—often used in combination as a mild oath

holy smoke

holily

ˈhō-lə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• devout
• godly
• pious
• religious
• sainted
• saintly

Examples of holy in a Sentence

a holy relic worn by one of the saints

the holy monk spent many hours on his knees in prayer

Recent Examples on the Web

Another is the state’s seemingly countless efforts — both legislation and administrative decrees, scattered among a plethora of agencies – to reach the holy grail of carbon emission neutrality with little or no evaluation of their cost-effectiveness. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024

Another is the state’s seemingly countless efforts – both legislation and administrative decrees, scattered among a plethora of agencies – to reach the holy grail of carbon emission neutralitywith little or no evaluation of their cost-effectiveness. —Dan Walters, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024

Muslim communities ended the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday and celebrated the holiday Eid al-Fitr. —Brian Van Der Brug, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

For Palestinians, the strike on Haniyeh's family darkened an already grim Eid al-Fitr holiday, which ends the holy fasting month of Ramadan. —Tia Goldenberg, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024

The family was at Sycamore & Oak in Congress Heights for Eid Fest, an annual event organized by the Masjid Muhammad mosque in the nation’s capital for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, prayer and evening gatherings. —Ellie Silverman, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

The holiday marks the end of Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month. —Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024

The holy month of fasting and reconnection with spirituality for Muslims concludes next week with Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday. —Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2024

Negotiators had been working toward a temporary cease-fire that would take effect during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in exchange for the release of hostages. —Daniel Estrin, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hālig; akin to Old English hāl whole — more at whole

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing holy

• give (someone) holy hell
• holy city
• holy cow
• holy day
• holy day of obligation
• holy mackerel
• holy matrimony
• holy moly
• holy of holies
• holy oil
• holy order
• holy smoke
• holy terror
• holy trinity
• holy war
• holy water
• holy writ
• the bonds of holy matrimony
• the holy of holies

Kids Definition

holy

adjective

ho·​ly ˈhō-lē 

holier; holiest

1

: worthy of complete devotion and trust

2

: divine

3

: set apart to the service of God or a god : sacred

4

: respected as sacred

5

: complete, utter

he is a holy terror

—used in combination as a mild oath

holy cow