: a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 14th of Adar in commemoration of the deliverance of the Jews from the massacre plotted by Haman
Examples of Purim in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her recording partners have included the late sax great Michael Brecker, Toots Thielemans and such Brazilian-music luminaries as Flora Purim, Airto Moreira and Tonhino Horta.
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George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025
In the case of the Esther lesson, the original curriculum had recreated an aspect of the Purim story in which Haman drew lots to determine when to kill Jews in the Persian Empire — as a way to teach probability.
—Jacob Gurvis, Sun Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024
Que es Purim, la festividad judia mas alegre Texas wants to arrest immigrants in the country illegally.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024
Easter, Purim, and Día de Muertos are repeating events that work like keyframes in our lives.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 July 2024
The annual Purim parade in the city was canceled this year over security concerns.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Additionally, it can be associated with other cultural and religious events, including the Jewish holiday of Purim.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024
The Purim story is one of stunning reversals, none more consequential than Esther’s transition from passivity to action.
—Todd Pittinsky, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2024
Thankfully, this season sees Susie continuing to serve looks that could double as costumes for Desperately Seeking Susan — synagogue Purim spiel.
—Sarah Nechamkin, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2024
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George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025
In the case of the Esther lesson, the original curriculum had recreated an aspect of the Purim story in which Haman drew lots to determine when to kill Jews in the Persian Empire — as a way to teach probability.
—Jacob Gurvis, Sun Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024
Que es Purim, la festividad judia mas alegre Texas wants to arrest immigrants in the country illegally.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024
Easter, Purim, and Día de Muertos are repeating events that work like keyframes in our lives.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 July 2024
The annual Purim parade in the city was canceled this year over security concerns.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Additionally, it can be associated with other cultural and religious events, including the Jewish holiday of Purim.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024
The Purim story is one of stunning reversals, none more consequential than Esther’s transition from passivity to action.
—Todd Pittinsky, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2024
Thankfully, this season sees Susie continuing to serve looks that could double as costumes for Desperately Seeking Susan — synagogue Purim spiel.
—Sarah Nechamkin, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Purim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Purim. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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Purim
noun
Pu·rim
ˈpu̇r-(ˌ)im 
pu̇r-ˈim
pu̇r-ˈim
: a Jewish holiday observed in February or March that celebrates the rescue of the Jews from a plot to massacre them
Etymology
from Hebrew pūrīm (plural), literally, "lots cast in determining something by chance"; so called because Haman in the biblical story in Esther 9:24–26 cast lots to decide a day on which he planned to destroy the Jews
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