- wakefulness or watchfulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping:They passed many hours in vigil.
- a watch or a period of watchful attention maintained at night or at other times: The nurse kept her vigil at the bedside of the dying man.
- a quiet demonstration to support a cause, protest an injustice, honor the dead, etc.: A candlelight vigil in remembrance of the two fallen officers will be held tonight at sundown.
- Ecclesiastical.
- a nocturnal devotional exercise or service, especially on the eve before a church festival:The Easter vigil reflects on the holy sacraments as well as the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
- the eve, or day and night, before a church festival, especially an eve that is a fast.
- a period of wakefulness from inability to sleep.
- a purposeful watch maintained, esp at night, to guard, observe, pray, etc
- the period of such a watch
- the eve of certain major festivals, formerly observed as a night spent in prayer: often marked by fasting and abstinence and a special Mass and divine office
- a period of sleeplessness; insomnia
