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

B-side compilations are a hallowed tradition in indie rock—countless alternative bands have tucked away great music on collections like this for diehard fans to discover. — Charles Moss, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2026

However, there is an interlocking NY insignia on his plaque in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026

The longtime headquarters of CBS News’s most hallowed properties—60 Minutes and Inside Edition—was recently hollowed out in a Paramount acquisition that saw personalities and producers shuffled to a center across the street. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The ballroom, however, almost seems like a rational investment compared with the arch that Trump wants to build in front of America’s most hallowed ground. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 20 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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