Word
vigil
Phoneticsvig·il, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈvɪdʒəɫ/
UK/vˈɪdʒɪl/
Definitions
01keeping watch or mourning
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a period of staying awake at night to watch over a sick person, pray, or remember someone who has died.
n. a period of wakefulness maintained for the purpose of keeping watch, praying, or mourning, particularly during the night.
“The family kept a quiet vigil by their grandfather's bedside all through the night.”
“The community held a candlelight vigil in the town square to honour the victims of the recent tragedy.”
Synonyms
02religious eve
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Religion Formal · Technical
n. the night before a religious festival, often spent praying or staying awake.
n. the eve of a religious festival, traditionally observed with prayer and fasting.
“Many people attended the Easter vigil at the cathedral on Saturday night.”
“The liturgical calendar includes several vigils that require the faithful to remain in the chapel for midnight services.”
Synonyms
Usage
Often used with the verb 'to keep' or 'to hold'.
Real-World Examples
“A vigil organised by group Stand Up To Racism is set to take place on Monday evening in Trafalgar Square.” “A vigil in Arday’s memory organised by the campaign group Stand Up to Racism will be held on the steps of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, central London, at 6pm on Monday.” Etymology
From Middle English vigile (“a devotional watching”), from Old French vigile, from Latin vigilia (“wakefulness, watch”), from vigil (“awake”), from Proto-Indo-European *weǵ- (“to be strong, lively, awake”). Doublet of Wigilia. See also wake and vigor, from the same root.
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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/vigil