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. 他去世之前，父母在他床边守夜守了好几个星期。

Supporters of the peace movement held an all-night candlelit vigil outside the cathedral. 和平运动的支持者们在大教堂外举行了一次持续一整夜的烛光守夜祈祷活动。