# pilgrimage

/ˈpɪɫɡɹəmədʒ/ (US) · /pˈɪlɡɹɪmɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pilgrimage
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. religious journey

noun · CEFR B2

a journey to a holy place to show respect or to pray.

For teachers: a journey to a shrine or other sacred place undertaken as an act of religious devotion.

- Every year, thousands of people make a pilgrimage to the holy city.
- The medieval cathedral remained a major site of pilgrimage for centuries, drawing believers from across the continent who sought spiritual healing.

Usage: Often used with the verb 'make' or 'go on'.

### 2. meaningful visit

noun · CEFR B2

a trip to a place that is very important to you for personal or cultural reasons.

For teachers: a journey to a place associated with someone or something respected or admired.

- The fans made a pilgrimage to the stadium where their favorite team first won.
- For many young writers, a visit to the poet's remote cottage is a necessary pilgrimage to understand the landscape that inspired his work.

### 3. to travel as a pilgrim

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to travel to a special or holy place.

For teachers: to perform or go on a pilgrimage. Intransitive use.

- They decided to pilgrimage across the mountains to reach the ancient temple.
- Having spent his youth in the city, he chose to pilgrimage back to his ancestral village to find peace in his final years.

## Examples

- Every year, thousands of people make a pilgrimage to the holy city.
- The writer's fans often make a pilgrimage to his childhood home to see where he grew up.
- The route has served as a path for pilgrimage for centuries, drawing travelers who seek spiritual renewal through the physical challenge of the long walk.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.