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
After the vigil, Kaori’s dad released a letter to the media.
—
Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Neighborhood full of grief Family and friends gathered Friday night for a candlelight vigil at the corner where 7-month-old Kaori took her last breath.
—Ali Bauman, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The film shows Hood’s arrival at the prison gates before dawn, his hours-long vigil, and his preparations for the death chamber.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Raised by ordinary citizens in 2021, the 1,640-foot-long National Covid Memorial Wall stretched along the bank of the River Thames, directly opposite the Parliament, as if holding vigil over the nation's corridors of power.
—Vincent Ni, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vigil
Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Neighborhood full of grief Family and friends gathered Friday night for a candlelight vigil at the corner where 7-month-old Kaori took her last breath.
—Ali Bauman, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The film shows Hood’s arrival at the prison gates before dawn, his hours-long vigil, and his preparations for the death chamber.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Raised by ordinary citizens in 2021, the 1,640-foot-long National Covid Memorial Wall stretched along the bank of the River Thames, directly opposite the Parliament, as if holding vigil over the nation's corridors of power.
—Vincent Ni, NPR, 1 Apr. 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 12 Apr. 2026.
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