hallowed

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

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

• venerable
• venerated
• revered
• sacred

Examples of hallowed in a Sentence

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

With its presence carved into tall columns and sprawling courtyards, this hallowed location has been a place of devotion to deities like Amun-Ra, Montu, and Mut for more than 3,000 years. —Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025

Tony Award winner John Rubinstein transports audiences to Gettysburg’s hallowed ground, where an elderly Eisenhower reflects on his monumental military leadership and transformative presidency. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025

Right alongside plastic wrap and parchment paper, aluminum foil enjoys a hallowed spot in homes across the U.S. —Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2025

Besides a bronze plaque in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown making its debut during the summer of 2031, Kershaw also deserves to be honored by Major League Baseball with the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award. —Wayne G. McDonnell, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see hallow

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for hallowed

• unhallowed

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!