: 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
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
That evening marked the beginning of Purim, the festive commemoration of the victory of the Jews over Haman the Agagite, a court official in the Persian Empire and the nemesis of the Jews in the Old Testament’s Book of Esther.
—Mark Mazzetti Jonathan Davis Anna Diamond David Mason, New York Times, 16 May 2024
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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
That evening marked the beginning of Purim, the festive commemoration of the victory of the Jews over Haman the Agagite, a court official in the Persian Empire and the nemesis of the Jews in the Old Testament’s Book of Esther.
—Mark Mazzetti Jonathan Davis Anna Diamond David Mason, New York Times, 16 May 2024
Dictionary Entries Near Purim
Cite this Entry
“Purim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Purim. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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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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