1
a
: a length of cloth worn by women as a covering for the head and shoulders and often especially in Eastern countries for the face
specifically
: the outer covering of a nun's headdress
b
: a length of veiling or netting worn over the head or face or attached for protection or ornament to a hat or headdress
a bridal veil
c
: any of various liturgical cloths
especially
: a cloth used to cover the chalice
2
: the life of a nun
—often used in the phrase take the veil
3
: a concealing curtain or cover of cloth
4
: something that resembles a veil
a veil of stars
especially
: something that hides or obscures like a veil
lift the veil of secrecy
veiled; veiling; veils
: to cover, provide, obscure, or conceal with or as if with a veil
: to put on or wear a veil
Synonyms
Examples of veil in a Sentence
Noun
Veils of moss draped the trees.
under the veil of descending darkness the thieves began their operation
Verb
Her eyes were partially veiled by her long, dark hair.
The sun was veiled by clouds.
Recent Examples on the Web
C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Like a lot of the standby songs and commentaries on his 2023 tour and now (following a sick-day pause) the ‘24 outing, this particular standout has to do with his most recurring theme of recent years, live and on record: the thin veil between life and death.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024
Money illusion — the common human failure to pierce the veil imposed by inflation — has obscured that reality.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Also within her grid carousel, the Peaky Blinders star included a photo of herself walking through an old cathedral in a tan wedding dress embellished with flowers and birds and a long, floor-sweeping veil.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Roughly 30 people wearing red shirts and veils staged a silent performance, scattering fabric petals bearing the names of Gazans killed by Israel’s military.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
The expansion is basically the vault without the veil, and it will be attached to the rear of the original museum, creating an inside-out mirror image of sorts.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Even though this true crime took place around 1920, a century later in 2024, our society can undoubtedly relate to the idea of people attacking one another behind the veil of anonymity, these days by way of social media.
—Jeff Conway, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The service will also allow brides to purchase additional accessories, including veils and hair bows.
Made-to-order fashion is also a smart way to reduce garment waste and overproduction.
—Laura Hawkins, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2024
Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
Traditional banks are known for their rigorous loan application processes, veiled in complex jargon and strict requirements.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
With the sheer veiled glow trending in beauty, the highlighter is the ideal complement to a second-skin makeup look.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 29 Mar. 2024
Replete with bubble-gum-pink pastels, vertigo-inducing oils and spindly bronzes, the exhibition is a reminder that art, at its best, is gripping, veiled in delicacy and calibrated to shock.
—Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
Tucked in a Lake Norman cove, veiled by beer, wine, cheese and live music, a 70-year-old business owner raked in money — and kept too much for herself, authorities say.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024
In the meantime, one thing is certain, the mysteries that veil this exciting Javanese site will continue to perplex and capture the imaginations of future generations to come.
—Discover Staff, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024
In the heart of the Himalayas lies a kingdom veiled in tradition and adorned with breathtaking landscapes of mountains and valleys.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
And third, that thinly veiled anti-Chinese xenophobia has become a reliable part of the US political playbook.
—Dexter Thomas, WIRED, 1 Feb. 2024
Noun
Through a combination of interviews, archival material and behind-the-scenes footage, the series lifts the veil behind how one of the most prestigious dance programs emerged from Liberty City, one of Miami’s most historically underserved communities.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Like a lot of the standby songs and commentaries on his 2023 tour and now (following a sick-day pause) the ‘24 outing, this particular standout has to do with his most recurring theme of recent years, live and on record: the thin veil between life and death.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024
Money illusion — the common human failure to pierce the veil imposed by inflation — has obscured that reality.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Also within her grid carousel, the Peaky Blinders star included a photo of herself walking through an old cathedral in a tan wedding dress embellished with flowers and birds and a long, floor-sweeping veil.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Roughly 30 people wearing red shirts and veils staged a silent performance, scattering fabric petals bearing the names of Gazans killed by Israel’s military.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
The expansion is basically the vault without the veil, and it will be attached to the rear of the original museum, creating an inside-out mirror image of sorts.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Even though this true crime took place around 1920, a century later in 2024, our society can undoubtedly relate to the idea of people attacking one another behind the veil of anonymity, these days by way of social media.
—Jeff Conway, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The service will also allow brides to purchase additional accessories, including veils and hair bows.
Made-to-order fashion is also a smart way to reduce garment waste and overproduction.
—Laura Hawkins, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
In doing so, such a policy may also veil opportunities for building better ties with small and middle-sized states by addressing their individual interests.
—Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
Traditional banks are known for their rigorous loan application processes, veiled in complex jargon and strict requirements.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
With the sheer veiled glow trending in beauty, the highlighter is the ideal complement to a second-skin makeup look.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 29 Mar. 2024
Replete with bubble-gum-pink pastels, vertigo-inducing oils and spindly bronzes, the exhibition is a reminder that art, at its best, is gripping, veiled in delicacy and calibrated to shock.
—Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
Tucked in a Lake Norman cove, veiled by beer, wine, cheese and live music, a 70-year-old business owner raked in money — and kept too much for herself, authorities say.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024
In the meantime, one thing is certain, the mysteries that veil this exciting Javanese site will continue to perplex and capture the imaginations of future generations to come.
—Discover Staff, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024
In the heart of the Himalayas lies a kingdom veiled in tradition and adorned with breathtaking landscapes of mountains and valleys.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
And third, that thinly veiled anti-Chinese xenophobia has become a reliable part of the US political playbook.
—Dexter Thomas, WIRED, 1 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'veil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Veil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/veil. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
veil
1 of 2 noun1
: a piece of cloth or net worn usually by women over the head and shoulders and sometimes over the face
2
: something that covers or hides like a veil
lift the veil of secrecy
veil
2 of 2 verb
: to cover with or as if with a veil
Medical Definition
veil
noun
: a covering body part or membrane
especially
: caul sense 2
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