Illustration of menorah
: a candelabra with seven or nine lights that is used in Jewish worship
Did you know?
The Menorah and Hanukkah
In English, menorah was originally the name for the seven-branched candelabra used in Jewish worship. The nine-branched Hanukkah candelabra is called hanukkiah in Hebrew, but English speakers came to use menorah for this too. The Hanukkah menorah recalls expulsion by Judah Maccabee of invading forces from the Temple of Jerusalem. Maccabee and his followers sought oil for the temple’s menorah so that the sanctuary could be rededicated, but they found only enough oil for a single day. Miraculously, that tiny amount of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply could be obtained. The Hanukkah menorah includes a candle for each day the oil burned, plus the shammes, a "servant candle" that is used to light the others.
Examples of menorah in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the start of Hanukkah 2021, Chung posted a photo of the family's menorah on her Instagram Story — marking the start of their twins’ first holiday season.
—
Sophie Dodd, People.com, 25 Dec. 2024
One candle is lit each night on the menorah, which is placed in a doorway or window, each night, until all candles are lit on the eighth night.
—Cailey Gleeson, Journal Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
The children will peel potatoes to help make latkes from scratch to dine on after the lighting of the menorah.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
Johnson supplied his own menorah, which was made out of shrapnel from rockets shot down by the Israel Defense Forces.
—Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for menorah 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sophie Dodd, People.com, 25 Dec. 2024
One candle is lit each night on the menorah, which is placed in a doorway or window, each night, until all candles are lit on the eighth night.
—Cailey Gleeson, Journal Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
The children will peel potatoes to help make latkes from scratch to dine on after the lighting of the menorah.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
Johnson supplied his own menorah, which was made out of shrapnel from rockets shot down by the Israel Defense Forces.
—Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for menorah
Dictionary Entries Near menorah
Cite this Entry
“Menorah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menorah. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
menorah
noun
me·no·rah
mə-ˈnȯr-ə 
: a holder for candles used in Jewish worship
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share