DictionaryAI

holy

SayHOH-lee/ˈhoʊli/UK/ˈhəʊli/

Formsholier, holiest

6 meanings of holy

Practice

  1. 1
    honored (religion)adjective
    Connected with God or religion and treated with deep respect, like a holy place or holy water.

    Like a hero everyone in a group looks up to.

    Many people visit the holy place every year.

    Take off your shoes before you enter the holy room.

    UsageSay a place is holy to a group of people.

    Similarsacred, revered, blessed, hallowed

    Oppositeunholy, profane, secular

  2. 2
    wowadjectiveslang
    Put in front of a word to make a surprised shout stronger.

    Like adding the word 'super' to make something sound bigger.

    Holy cow, that dog is huge!

    Holy smokes, we won the game!

    Note
  3. 3
    saintlyadjective
    Morally good and pure, with almost no faults at all.

    Like a person who always does the right thing, no matter what.

    She led a holy life, always kind and honest.

    People called him holy because he never lied or cheated.

    Similarsaintly, pious, godly, virtuous, righteous

    Oppositesinful, wicked, impious, ungodly

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    adjectivecolloquial
    Used before a noun to make it stronger, meaning complete or terrible.

    After the party, the kitchen was a holy mess.

    Their little boy is sweet at school but a holy terror at bedtime.

    UsageMostly in a holy terror or a holy mess.

    Similarutter, total, absolute, complete

    Note
  2. 5
    inner shrinenoun
    An extremely sacred thing, used mostly in the phrase 'Holy of Holies.'

    Like the most secret, special room that almost no one may enter.

    Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies.

    Behind the great curtain lay the Holy of Holies.

    Note
  3. 6
    wowinterjectionslang
    Said on its own to show great surprise or amazement.

    Like shouting 'Wow!' when something amazes you.

    Holy! That was the loudest thunder I've ever heard.

    Holy! Look how high the kite went!

    Similarwow, whoa, gosh, jeez

    Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Old English 'hāliġ', meaning holy or sacred. It is related to the word 'whole', from an old root meaning 'healthy, whole'.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts