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Holy Week
noun
: the week before Easter during which the last days of Christ's life are commemorated
Examples of Holy Week in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The holiday is the last day of the Christian Holy Week, consisting of several days that lead up to Easter Sunday.
—Joyce Orlando, Detroit Free Press, 1 Mar. 2024
This ends with Holy Week, which includes Holy Thursday (the celebration of Jesus' Last Supper with his Apostles) and Good Friday, on which Jesus' crucifixion is observed.
—Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 11 Feb. 2024
Set during Holy Week in southern Spain’s Morón de la Frontera, Verdú plays Lucía Gutiérrez, a seargant in the Civil Guard who’s investigating the unexpected death of a neighbor, ostensibly by suicide.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2024
The abstinence restrictions are continued on Fridays during Lent, which is the period of repentance and penance leading up to Holy Week observances — most significantly their belief in the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection from the dead.
—Holly Meyer, Twin Cities, 13 Feb. 2024
Good Friday is just one part of the larger Holy Week that proceeds, with the week's conclusion marking the end of a 40-day fast Catholics endure known as Lent, according to Catholic Online.
—The Arizona Republic, 1 Feb. 2024
Lent ends with Holy Week and Easter Sunday, an important day in the Christian calendar that honors the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion on the cross, per BBC.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2024
Keep in mind that travel might be tricky during Semana Santa, the Holy Week of Easter when Argentina all but shuts down while residents travel to visit family and attend religious services.
—Megan Wood, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2023
Other major festivals in Portugal include Carnival, which occurs in February and March; Holy Week in April and May; and Sintra Festival over the summer.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Holy Week.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1710, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near Holy Week
Cite this Entry
“Holy Week.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Holy%20Week. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.
Kids Definition
Holy Week
noun
: the week before Easter
More from Merriam-Webster on Holy Week
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Holy Week
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