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

• watch
• surveillance

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

Photos from the vigil showed supporters assembling around images of the conservative activist, surrounded by candles and other tributes. —Sophia Compton , Andrea Margolis , Olivia Palombo, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025

What was initially billed as a vigil for Kirk quickly devolved into an apparent White supremacist gathering, based on social media footage. —Claire Wang, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025

On Monday, her husband, the Duke of Kent, and daughter Lady Helen Taylor appeared solemn as her coffin was taken by hearse from Kensington Palace to Westminster Cathedral for a private vigil. —Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025

Cars lined up from miles away, and about 1,000 people walked toward Trinity Park in Fort Worth to join a prayer vigil Sunday night to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk. —Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 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