spirit
noun
the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.
spirit
American
[spir-it]
/ ˈspɪr ɪt /
noun
-
spirits
plural
-
the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.
-
the incorporeal part of humans.
present in spirit though absent in body.
- Synonyms:
- essence, consciousness, mind, life
-
the soul regarded as separating from the body at death.
-
conscious, incorporeal being, as opposed to matter.
the world of spirit.
-
a supernatural, incorporeal being, especially one inhabiting a place, object, etc., or having a particular character.
evil spirits.
- Synonyms:
- shade, phantom, apparition
-
a fairy, sprite, or elf.
-
an angel or demon.
- Synonyms:
- genius
-
an attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervades thought, feeling, or action.
the spirit of reform.
-
(initial capital letter) the divine influence as an agency working in the human heart.
-
a divine, inspiring, or animating being or influence. Numbers 11:25; Isaiah 32:15.
-
(initial capital letter) the third person of the Trinity; Holy Spirit.
-
the soul or heart as the seat of feelings or sentiments, or as prompting to action.
a man of broken spirit.
-
spirits, feelings or mood with regard to exaltation or depression.
low spirits; good spirits.
-
excellent disposition or attitude in terms of vigor, courage, firmness of intent, etc.; mettle.
That's the spirit!
- Synonyms:
- enterprise, fire, ardor, zeal, energy, enthusiasm
-
temper or disposition.
meek in spirit.
-
an individual as characterized by a given attitude, disposition, character, action, etc..
A few brave spirits remained to face the danger.
-
the dominant tendency or character of anything.
the spirit of the age.
-
vigorous sense of membership in a group.
college spirit.
-
the general meaning or intent of a statement, document, etc. (opposed to letter).
the spirit of the law.
- Synonyms:
- purport, significance, intention
-
Chemistry. the essence or active principle of a substance as extracted in liquid form, especially by distillation.
-
Often spirits a strong distilled alcoholic liquor.
-
Chiefly British. alcohol.
-
Pharmacology. a solution in alcohol of an essential or volatile principle; essence.
-
any of certain subtle fluids formerly supposed to permeate the body.
-
the Spirit, God
adjective
-
pertaining to something that works by burning alcoholic spirits.
a spirit stove.
-
of or relating to spiritualist bodies or activities.
verb (used with object)
-
spirits,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spirited,
past participle, past
-
spiriting
present participle
-
to animate with fresh ardor or courage; inspirit.
-
to encourage; urge on or stir up, as to action.
-
to carry off mysteriously or secretly (often followed by away oroff ).
His captors spirited him away.
idioms
spirit
1
British
/ ˈspɪrɪt /
noun
-
the force or principle of life that animates the body of living things
-
temperament or disposition
truculent in spirit
-
liveliness; mettle
they set to it with spirit
-
the fundamental, emotional, and activating principle of a person; will
the experience broke his spirit
-
a sense of loyalty or dedication
team spirit
-
the prevailing element; feeling
a spirit of joy pervaded the atmosphere
-
state of mind or mood; attitude
he did it in the wrong spirit
-
(plural) an emotional state, esp with regard to exaltation or dejection
in high spirits
-
a person characterized by some activity, quality, or disposition
a leading spirit of the movement
-
the deeper more significant meaning as opposed to a pedantic interpretation
the spirit of the law
-
that which constitutes a person's intangible being as contrasted with his physical presence
I shall be with you in spirit
-
-
an incorporeal being, esp the soul of a dead person
-
( as modifier )
spirit world
-
verb
-
to carry off mysteriously or secretly
-
(often foll by up) to impart animation or determination to
spirit
2
British
/ ˈspɪrɪt /
noun
-
(often plural) any distilled alcoholic liquor such as brandy, rum, whisky, or gin
-
chem
-
an aqueous solution of ethanol, esp one obtained by distillation
-
the active principle or essence of a substance, extracted as a liquid, esp by distillation
-
-
pharmacol
-
a solution of a volatile substance, esp a volatile oil, in alcohol
-
( as modifier )
a spirit burner
-
-
alchemy any of the four substances sulphur, mercury, sal ammoniac, or arsenic
Spirit
3
British
/ ˈspɪrɪt /
noun
-
-
another name for the Holy Spirit
-
God, esp when regarded as transcending material limitations
-
-
the influence of God or divine things upon the soul
-
Christian Science God or divine substance
spirit
More Idioms
Synonym Usage
See ghost.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
spiritsimple
-
spiritssimple
-
have spiritedperfect
-
has spiritedperfect
-
am spiritingprogressive
-
are spiritingprogressive
-
is spiritingprogressive
-
have been spiritingperfect progressive
-
has been spiritingperfect progressive
Past
-
spiritedsimple
-
had spiritedperfect
-
was spiritingprogressive
-
were spiritingprogressive
-
had been spiritingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of spirit
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English (noun), from Latin spīritus originally, “a breathing,” equivalent to spīri-, combining form representing spīrāre “to breathe” + -tus suffix of verb action
Explanation
If someone tells you you have a sagging spirit, that means your life-force seems to be missing. Spirit comes from the Latin word for "breath," and like breath, spirit is considered a fundamental part of being alive. Some people think of the spirit as a presence that's separate from the body, which is why spirit is another word for ghost. We also use spirit to mean "the general mood or intent," like when you tell your former enemy, "I approach you in the spirit of kindness."
Vocabulary lists containing spirit
Native American History - Introductory
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Native American History - Middle School and High School
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Chinese History - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Georgieva said she was "impressed" by the spirit of cooperation between AI companies, governments and other stakeholders that she witnessed in Bangkok on the issue.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
In Proverbs we read that “pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
He added: "People get right into the spirit of it," talking about the visitors.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
In the spirit, tee-hee, of the network’s “Ghosts,” and, indeed, created by its developers Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, comes another supernatural domestic comedy, the likable, clever “Eternally Yours.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
I am sad I will not be there to see it in person, but I shall always be with you in spirit.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
The Spirit of Normandy Trust said he was committed to remembering those who were sent to war and never returned.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
Appeared in the October 7, 2026, print edition as 'Washington Needs the Tax-Reform Spirit of ’86'.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Before his foray into Spider-Man-related projects, Cage portrayed Johnny Blaze in the 2007 movie “Ghost Rider” and its sequel, “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Solihull-born Cole, who trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, after making her stage debut at the age of 17 – playing the 90-year-old medium Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
“Any interest in learning more about the Spirit of the Sea before you go upstairs, dear?”
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
That added to concerns about the whole AI-tech complex, but Nvidia chief Jensen Huang on Thursday lifted spirits by defending the company and its health.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Full steam ahead. I’m in great spirits and ready to make the most of this off-season.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
Friday's mission raised more money for charity and also raised spirits, but not in a good way.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
That one’s about spirits from different eras who were forced to cohabitate mostly alone until a living human couple moved into their mansion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
And that for some reason always made me smile, and so lifted my spirits.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
These are just some of the bold, controversial statements that have come up at “Unpopular Opinion,” a live, interactive event where people share and defend their hot takes in front of a spirited audience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
The precious objects were spirited out and trafficked abroad, including to the US.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
It is up to us to decide whether the spirited words of Patrick Henry, “Give me Liberty or give me death,” still echo across our land.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
Since 1982, policymakers and prominent economists have gathered in this remote valley ringed by mountains in Grand Teton National Park -- known to most people more for its bison than for spirited debates on macroeconomics.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
There are various theories, all of which have sparked spirited debate.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
“You can be in a sort of magpie mode where you’re always looking for things to use, and spiriting those things back to your creative process,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
“He was going to retire a very wealthy man, but because he wanted more, what he’s going to be known for from now on is spiriting himself away from Japan by hiding in a box.”
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 23, 2023
It has carried out spectacular missions such as hunting down Arab enemies through Europe, capturing Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann and, with agents disguised as scuba diving instructors, spiriting Ethiopian Jews out to Israel.
From Reuters ● Aug. 1, 2023
War heroes: A student spiriting supplies to soldiers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2022
I have an image of spiriting Cordelia away, rescuing her.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
