Pronunciation

/həʊli/

Definitions

• Adjective: Sacred or consecrated; dedicated to a religious purpose or deity. For example: “The holy scriptures were read during the ceremony.”
  • Also used to describe something that is considered pure, perfect, or morally right: “She leads a holy life devoted to helping others.”
• Noun: (usually capitalized) Refers to God or gods, especially in Christian contexts: “The Holy Trinity consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

Phrases

• “Holy place” refers to a location considered sacred or hallowed by a religion.
• “Holy water” is water that has been blessed and is often used in religious rituals.
• “Holy day” is another term for a religious holiday or festival.
• “Holy grail” metaphorically refers to an elusive or highly sought-after object or goal.

Example Sentences

• Adjective: “The church’s holy atmosphere was palpable during the midnight mass.”
• “This ancient book is considered one of the holiest texts in their faith.”
• Noun: “Many pilgrims journey to Jerusalem, known as the Holy City.”
• “The priest sprinkled holy water on the congregation.”

Synonyms

• Sacred
• Sanctified
• Divine
• Blessed
• Hallowed

For the verb form of “holy”, it’s less common but can be seen in some dialects or informal uses meaning to make or declare something as holy:

• Consecrate
• Sanctify
• Bless
• Purify