Word
hallowed
Phoneticshal·lowed, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhæɫoʊd/
UK/hˈæləʊd/
Definitions
01sacred or holy
C2 · Proficiency Religion Formal · Literary
adj. holy or made sacred by a religious ceremony.
adj. consecrated or sanctified; regarded as holy and set apart for religious purposes.
“The monks walked quietly through the hallowed halls of the ancient monastery.”
“The cathedral was built upon hallowed ground, where pilgrims had gathered for centuries to seek spiritual healing.”
Usage
Often used to describe physical spaces like churches or cemeteries.
02greatly respected
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Literary
adj. very respected because of its history or the famous people who were there.
adj. highly venerated or respected due to historical importance or traditional prestige.
“It was a dream come true to play on the hallowed turf of the stadium.”
“The young lawyer felt a sense of awe as she entered the hallowed chambers of the Supreme Court.”
Teaching tip
In modern secular contexts, this is frequently used to describe famous sports stadiums or prestigious universities.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“At the rally, Trump described the ballroom as a “beautiful, magnificent complex, being built on the hallowed grounds of our cherished White House”.” “After staff members cut the metal fencing keeping them in, they found freedom, pressing their paws into what would become their hallowed ground.” Etymology
From Middle English halwed (“hallowed, sacred, sanctified”), from Old English ġehālgod (“hallowed, sacred, sanctified”), past participle of hālgian (“to hallow, make holy”). Equivalent to hallow + -ed. More at hallow.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/hallowed