What does hallowing mean?
Hallowing means making something holy or sacred, or treating it with such profound reverence that it becomes an object of respect. The word is especially common in religious, ceremonial, memorial, and literary contexts, where it suggests more than ordinary approval: a person or place may be said to be hallowed by faith, tradition, sacrifice, or historical memory. The expression “hallowed ground” is its best-known modern use and often refers to battlefields or other places marked by solemn significance. As a noun, hallowing can name the act or process of sanctification, although that use is less frequent than the verb. The word’s elevated register gives it an enduring, ceremonial force, making it especially effective for describing places and memories that deserve reverence. In figurative use, it can convey the transformation of something ordinary into a powerful cultural or spiritual landmark.
To make something holy or sacred, especially by a religious rite; to consecrate or sanctify it. Figuratively, to treat something with profound reverence.
"The bishop pronounced the cathedral hallowed and dedicated it to the service of the church."
Literary, religious, or ceremonial in register. The figurative sense often describes a place, person, memory, or tradition made venerable by experience or significance.
The act or process of making something holy or sacred, or of regarding it with solemn reverence.
"The hallowing of the old battlefield served as a focus for national remembrance."
Less common than the verb and usually encountered in formal or commemorative contexts.
Rare; the noun is more commonly used in the singular or uncountably.
"The hallowings of memory and tradition were central to the ceremony."
The phrase “hallowed ground” gives hallowing its enduring public life: a place becomes a sanctuary of memory, whether it is a battlefield, a church, or a beloved home.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hallowing come from?
Hallowing comes through Middle English from the Old English verb hālian, meaning “to make holy,” formed from hālig, “holy.” The word belongs to a Germanic family based on a root associated with “whole” or “entire,” reflected in English cognates such as holy and wholly. The present participle hallowing came to denote both the act of making something sacred and the process of consecrating or venerating it.
Related word forms
How hallowing is actually used
Chiefly literary, ceremonial, or religious. Figurative uses carry a solemn, almost sacred connotation, and the word is less common in everyday speech than “bless,” “consecrate,” or “make holy.”
Easily confused with hallowing
Hallowing is the process of making something sacred, while hallowed is the adjective describing something already regarded as holy or venerable.
Hallowing means to sanctify or revere, whereas hollow means empty, insincere, or lacking substance.