Phrase guide

take the veil

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To retire into a convent and live as a nun.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

become a nun

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The young woman took the veil after her fiance died

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: profess

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: mennä nunnaluostariin — Translations
  • Finnish: ryhtyä nunnaksi — Translations
  • French: prendre le voile — Translations
  • Hungarian: felveszi a fátylat — Translations
  • Polish: wstępować do klasztoru — Translations
  • Polish: wstępować do zakonu — Translations
  • Polish: wstąpić do klasztoru — Translations
  • Polish: wstąpić do zakonu — Translations