as in watch
an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity
kept vigil at their ailing son's bedside the entire time he was in the hospital
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Recent Examples of vigil
People attend a candlelight vigil for Haitians living in the US under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) immigration program in Miami, Florida on February 3, 2026.
—
Tania Francois,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
Using strobes and a long exposure time to allow the maximum amount of available light to hit his lens, Cooley snags about 50 shots of the 20-foot-tall tree, which stands vigil over a street where nearly all the homes burned.
—
Marah Eakin,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
The city will mark the fifth anniversary of police officer Kevin Apple's death Friday with a vigil at a memorial in the fallen officer's honor.
—
Annette Beard,
Arkansas Online,
24 June 2026
At the June 11 vigil, held at the same complex where the girls were shot, Jackson was embraced by friends and family, too emotional to speak.
—
Sara-James Ranta,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for vigil
Tania Francois,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
Using strobes and a long exposure time to allow the maximum amount of available light to hit his lens, Cooley snags about 50 shots of the 20-foot-tall tree, which stands vigil over a street where nearly all the homes burned.
—
Marah Eakin,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
The city will mark the fifth anniversary of police officer Kevin Apple's death Friday with a vigil at a memorial in the fallen officer's honor.
—
Annette Beard,
Arkansas Online,
24 June 2026
At the June 11 vigil, held at the same complex where the girls were shot, Jackson was embraced by friends and family, too emotional to speak.
—
Sara-James Ranta,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for vigil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigil
Noun
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Epstein said the stunt doubles as a virtual watch party for fans who couldn't make it to New York.
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The consumer version compresses that same idea into a ring, watch or app.
Noun
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Robinson’s parents had confronted him after authorities released a surveillance photo of the suspect and details about the rifle, authorities have said.
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Better detection and rising clinician awareness probably explain much of the jump, though surveillance data alone cannot rule out changes in incidence or exposure.
Cite this Entry
“Vigil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigil. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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