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

• lookout
• surveillance
• watch

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

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, left, speaks at a candlelight vigil on June 10 in the city, while California Governor Gavin Newsom, right, is pictured during a news conference at Gemperle Orchard on April 16 in Ceres, California. —Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025

At a candlelight vigil for the victims in Graz's main square late on Tuesday night people gathered, trying to make sense of what appears to be the most senseless of acts. —Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 11 June 2025

David and her family are holding a prayer vigil outside for Gayheart outside the Florida State Prison in Raiford. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 8 June 2025

Multiple people were burned, some severely, in an attack on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall during a vigil that called on Hamas to release Israeli hostages. —Denver Post, Boston Herald, 2 June 2025

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