vigil

2 definitions • 4 examples

an act of staying awake, especially at night, in order to be with a person who is very ill or dying, or to make a protest, or to pray:

His parents kept vigil beside his bed for weeks before he died.

Supporters of the peace movement held an all-night candlelit vigil outside the cathedral.

a period of staying awake to be with someone who is ill or to call public attention to something:

The boy’s parents kept a long vigil in his hospital room.

A candlelight vigil on the steps of the courthouse was held to protest the verdict in this trial.