vigil

noun

vig·​il ˈvi-jəl 

1

: the act of keeping awake at times when sleep is customary

also : a period of wakefulness

2

: an event or a period of time when a person or group stays in a place and quietly waits, prays, etc., especially at night

a candlelight vigil

kept vigil at her bedside

3

a

: a watch formerly kept on the night before a religious feast with prayer or other devotions

b

: the day before a religious feast observed as a day of spiritual preparation

c

: evening or nocturnal devotions or prayers

—usually used in plural

Synonyms of vigil

• watch
• surveillance

Examples of vigil in a Sentence

kept vigil at their ailing son's bedside the entire time he was in the hospital

Recent Examples on the Web

For many people, remembrance means attending a vigil, visiting a memorial, reading the names of the 49, or sharing a tribute. —Jennifer Marcial Ocasio, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026

About 100 people gathered Friday night at Centennial Park for a vigil honoring the victims of a mass shooting that left one man dead and 10 others injured earlier in the day. —Marissa Armas, CBS News, 13 June 2026

The pontiff has been packing out stadiums and plazas for prayer vigils and Masses, while the Puerto Rican rapper has been holding his party-style mega-concerts in front of tens of thousands. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 10 June 2026

Leo also spoke in Catalan, more than initially foreseen, during the prayer vigil that featured a question-and-answer session with young adults. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vigile, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin vigilia watch on the eve of a feast, from Latin, wakefulness, watch, from vigil awake, watchful; akin to Latin vigēre to be vigorous, vegēre to enliven — more at wake

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Phrases Containing vigil

• keep vigil
• vigil light

Kids Definition

vigil

noun

vig·​il ˈvij-əl 

1

a

: the day before a religious feast

b

: prayers or religious services held in the evening or at night

—usually used in plural

2

: an act or period of staying awake at times when one normally would be sleeping

an all-night vigil spent awaiting her return

3

: an act or period of attentive watching : watch

kept vigil at the bedside of his ill son