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 of vigil

• 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

Leo will also meet with the Spanish royals and preside over a prayer vigil for young people that will recall Benedict's visit to Spain in 2011. —ABC News, 6 June 2026

Every Sunday, an interfaith prayer vigil is held on the shoulder of Highway 41, across the road from the entrance to Alligator Alcatraz. —Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

Residents, community leaders, and advocates gathered for a silent vigil honoring the three people killed in last Thursday's gas explosion at the Clyde Apartments in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood. —Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 4 June 2026

Sikisi-Belle was a father of three and was celebrating his son's birthday when the shooting occurred, his family and friends said at a June 2 vigil. —David Clarey, jsonline.com, 4 June 2026

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