hallowed

1 of 2

adjective

hal·​lowed ˈha-(ˌ)lōd 

ˈha-ləd

in the Lord's Prayer often ˈha-lə-wəd

1

: holy, consecrated

the church stands on hallowed ground

2

: sacred, revered

the university's hallowed halls

hallowed customs

hallowed

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of hallow

Did you know?

Hallowed Has Old English Roots

The adjective hallowed, meaning "holy" or "revered," isn’t especially spooky, but its history is entwined with that of a certain spooky season. Hallowed is the past participle of the verb hallow, a term that descends from the Middle English word halowen. That word can be traced back to the Old English adjective hālig, meaning "holy." During the Middle Ages, All Hallows' Day was the name for what Christians now call All Saints' Day (hallow was once used also as a noun referring to a saint), and the evening that preceded All Hallows' Day was All Hallows' Eve or All Hallow Even—or, as we know it today, Halloween. (Although pumpkins are often hollowed out on Halloween, hollow has a different Old English root.)

Synonyms of hallowed

Adjective

• venerable
• venerated
• revered
• sacred

Examples of hallowed in a Sentence

Adjective

The church stands on hallowed ground.

the college's hallowed tradition of ringing the chapel bell one hundred times before commencement ceremonies

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The show, which will take place this Saturday, is in part inspired by its setting, New York’s hallowed time capsule of a power-lunch restaurant, The Grill. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2026

The highest mountain is Mount Olympus in Macedonia, which according to mythology served as the hallowed home of the gods. — Jennifer Tzeses, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026

But no one will rank Kornél Mundruczó’s tender late-life drama, written by creative and life partner Kata Wéber, among the highest ranks of Burstyn’s most hallowed works. — Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026

Don’t go looking for hushed tones, decorous silence or the other traditions of a sport whose roots exist on the hallowed lawns of polite society. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see hallow

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Rhymes for hallowed

• unhallowed

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