# Eucharist

/ˈjukɝəst/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eucharist
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the religious sacrament

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a holy ceremony in Christianity where people eat bread and drink wine to remember Jesus.

For teachers: the Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed.

- The priest prepared the bread and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist.
- Different Christian denominations hold varying theological views on the nature of the Eucharist, specifically regarding the presence of Christ in the elements.

Usage: Often capitalized as 'Eucharist' when referring to the specific sacrament or service.

### 2. the religious service

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a church service where the ceremony of bread and wine takes place.

For teachers: a Christian liturgical service in which the sacrament of Holy Communion is the central act.

- They attend the Sunday Eucharist at the local cathedral every week.
- The morning Eucharist was conducted with great solemnity, featuring traditional hymns and a formal procession of the clergy.

### 3. the bread and wine

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

the actual bread and wine used during the religious ceremony.

For teachers: the consecrated elements of bread and wine used in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

- The believers knelt to receive the Eucharist from the minister.
- In some traditions, any remaining Eucharist must be consumed or disposed of according to strict liturgical guidelines.

## Examples

- The priest prepared the bread for the Eucharist.
- During the Sunday service, the congregation gathered at the altar to receive the Eucharist from the minister.
- Theological debates regarding the Eucharist often center on the nature of the real presence of Christ within the consecrated bread and wine during the liturgy.

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