high-spirited
Americanadjective
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characterized by energetic enthusiasm, elation, vivacity, etc.
-
boldly courageous; mettlesome.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- high-spiritedly adjective
- high-spiritedness noun
Etymology
Origin of high-spirited
First recorded in 1625–35
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.
Inside the Hollywood Palladium, the group — fresh-faced, high-spirited and dressed in their color-coordinated stagewear — held their final dress rehearsal last month.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025
Either way, the high-spirited jams are a throwback to a time when you still felt like clapping your hands, and maybe even saying “yeah. “
From Salon • Jun. 28, 2025
Her mother relished Bonmati's disregard for gender norms, while her father would fashion a ball from aluminium foil and take on his young daughter in high-spirited games in the kitchen.
From BBC • Dec. 13, 2023
The event was scriptless, to honor a compromise with striking writers, but chock full of high-spirited Broadway performances drawing raucous cheers from an audience clearly thrilled to be there at all.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 12, 2023
The Ashidas were a part of the Holcomb community everyone appreciated—a family likably high-spirited, yet hard-working and neighborly and generous, though they didn’t have much to be generous with.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.