keep vigil
To "keep vigil" involves staying awake and alert, often for a solemn or respectful purpose, especially during times when one would normally sleep.
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Definition
B2General
(common, formal)To stay awake and alert during normal sleeping hours, usually for a purpose like prayer, mourning, or guarding.
Example
- Family members kept vigil by the bedside of the ailing patient.
- Citizens gathered to keep vigil in memory of the victims.
B2Ceremonial
(formal)To maintain a period of watchfulness or attentive observation, often as a sign of respect or solidarity.
Example
- They kept vigil throughout the night, lighting candles in honor of the fallen soldiers.
- The community kept vigil to protest against the injustice.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "keep vigil":
stand sentinelkeep a lookoutwatch and wardkeep an eye openon guardnight watchon watchfire watchbe on the lookoutwatch one's backmind the storehold the fort