vigil

noun

vig·​il ˈvi-jəl 

1

: the act of keeping awake at times when sleep is customary

also : a period of wakefulness

2

: an event or a period of time when a person or group stays in a place and quietly waits, prays, etc., especially at night

a candlelight vigil

kept vigil at her bedside

3

a

: a watch formerly kept on the night before a religious feast with prayer or other devotions

b

: the day before a religious feast observed as a day of spiritual preparation

c

: evening or nocturnal devotions or prayers

—usually used in plural

Synonyms of vigil

• watch
• surveillance

Examples of vigil in a Sentence

kept vigil at their ailing son's bedside the entire time he was in the hospital

Recent Examples on the Web

Residents show up for the vigil each year despite wartime curfews and official warnings against large gatherings during Russia’s war on Ukraine. —ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026

Ten days before Hughes was killed, 32-year-old Robert Dailey, a Richmond resident, was gunned down outside a 35th Avenue apartment building after returning from another homicide victim’s candlelight vigil in West Contra Costa. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026

The West Chester community held a vigil to honor Garrett Nicholas, a 21-year-old student was hit and killed by a car on April 12. —Kerri Corrado, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

Keosha Pugh, who Brown said is recovering from surgery, attended a vigil for the children in a wheelchair Wednesday night. —Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vigile, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin vigilia watch on the eve of a feast, from Latin, wakefulness, watch, from vigil awake, watchful; akin to Latin vigēre to be vigorous, vegēre to enliven — more at wake

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Phrases Containing vigil

• keep vigil
• vigil light

Kids Definition

vigil

noun

vig·​il ˈvij-əl 

1

a

: the day before a religious feast

b

: prayers or religious services held in the evening or at night

—usually used in plural

2

: an act or period of staying awake at times when one normally would be sleeping

an all-night vigil spent awaiting her return

3

: an act or period of attentive watching : watch

kept vigil at the bedside of his ill son