Shavuot

noun

Sha·​vu·​ot shə-ˈvü-ˌōt 

-ˌōth,

-ˌōs,

-əs

variants or less commonly Shavuos or Shavuoth or Shabuoth

: a Jewish holiday observed on the sixth of Sivan and by Orthodox and Conservative Jews in the Diaspora also on the seventh of Sivan in commemoration of the revelation of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai

called also Pentecost

Examples of Shavuot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here again, as with Passover and Shavuot, ananei, which sounds like anita, could homiletically refer to our joyfully singing in the sukkah, celebrating God’s loving support. —Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2024

The Hebrew Bible instructs all Jews to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year; in spring for Passover, in summer for Shavuot and in the fall for Sukkot. —Diane Owens Prettyman, Austin American-Statesman, 1 July 2024

One Saturday evening in June, a hundred Currents readers crammed into a loft in Brooklyn for an all-night text study to celebrate the festival of Shavuot. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024

After eight long months, her partner had taken her away for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. —Shira Pinson, NBC News, 14 June 2024

Hopefully, the parties will reach a cease-fire deal before Netanyahu’s speech, which was rescheduled from June 13 because of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. —Josh Rogin, Washington Post, 14 June 2024

Ben-Zaken and Schuster spoke to the New York Jewish Week on a sunny, temperate morning just a few days ahead of Shavuot — a holiday when Jews traditionally eat cheesecake and other dairy food. —Julia Gergely, Sun Sentinel, 13 June 2024

No wonder the holiday of Shavuot, unlike all other festivals, is not tied to a historical event. —Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2023

Just over a month ago, the Goyim Defense League reportedly dropped flyers in Peabody on the Saturday that began the Jewish holiday Shavuot, which celebrates the revelation of the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai. —Jeremy C. Fox, BostonGlobe.com, 5 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew shābhūʽōth, plural of shābhūaʽ week

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Shavuot

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo