🇬🇧🇨🇳 vigil - 守夜 : English Lesson

Meaning of "vigil" ("守夜"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

A vigil is a period of staying awake, often during the night, to keep watch, pray, or show support for someone or something. People might hold a vigil to remember someone who has passed away, to wait for an important event, or to show solidarity for a cause.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

I held a vigil by the cookie jar to make sure my little brother didn’t steal the last one.

We had a vigil for my goldfish… until we realized he was just napping.

My friend held a vigil for his lost pencil… until he realized it was behind his ear the whole time.

I stood in a solemn vigil for my melted ice cream… a true tragedy.

My dog kept a vigil under the table, prepared to catch any falling food.

Night rain tapped the window as she kept vigil by the small bed. Her first vigil had been quiet; the second vigil she hummed; the third vigil she prayed aloud. Each vigil she brushed hair, checked the pulse, watched the slow rise and fall. At dawn, a weak smile — the vigil had worked.

This word is featured in some playlists to help boost your English vocabulary! Check out where “vigil” (守夜) makes an appearance and dive into themed playlists that make learning fun. 👍

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.