as in watch
an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity
kept vigil at their ailing son's bedside the entire time he was in the hospital
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Recent Examples of vigil
The late Pope Francis organized a similar vigil in 2013 for Syria – to rally against the civil war and reject military intervention – which was attended by around 100,000 people.
—
Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
Speaking from the loggia, the pope announced a prayer vigil for peace April 11 in the basilica.
—Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
The old Graham family home, built in the 1920s from coral rock, stands out on the north side, majestically keeping a vigil on the progress unfolding around it.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
But these recent years have been frustrating, particularly this current administration, which was why Saturday was his second time attending the vigils.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vigil
Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
Speaking from the loggia, the pope announced a prayer vigil for peace April 11 in the basilica.
—Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
The old Graham family home, built in the 1920s from coral rock, stands out on the north side, majestically keeping a vigil on the progress unfolding around it.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
But these recent years have been frustrating, particularly this current administration, which was why Saturday was his second time attending the vigils.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vigil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigil
Noun
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Horner, wearing his FedEx shirt and with his hands cuffed behind his back, watches as investigators search the thick bamboo, finding nothing.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
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While undoubtedly a difficult watch, Boy Erased is ultimately a story of resilience, with an achingly vulnerable performance by Hedges.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Ring surveillance video from the night of the shooting showed people ducking for cover on the 1500 block of South Etting Street as gunshots were fired.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Detectives and crime scene investigators canvassed the area for witnesses, surveillance video, and evidence.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vigil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigil. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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