soul

[ sohl ]

/ soʊl /

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See synonyms for: soul / souls on Thesaurus.com

noun

the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.

the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come: arguing the immortality of the soul.

the disembodied spirit of a deceased person: He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.

the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.

a human being; person.

high-mindedness; noble warmth of feeling, spirit or courage, etc.

the animating principle; the essential element or part of something.

the inspirer or moving spirit of some action, movement, etc.

the embodiment of some quality: He was the very soul of tact.

(initial capital letter)Christian Science. God; the divine source of all identity and individuality.

shared ethnic awareness and pride among Black people, especially Black Americans.

deeply felt emotion, as conveyed or expressed by a performer or artist.

soul music.

adjective

of, characteristic of, or for Black Americans or their culture: soul newspapers.

OTHER WORDS FOR soul

1 spirit.

4 heart.

7 essence, core, heart.

See synonyms for soul on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of soul

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sāwl, sāwol; cognate with Dutch ziel, German Seele, Old Norse sāl, Gothic saiwala

OTHER WORDS FROM soul

soullike, adjectiveun·der·soul, noun

Words nearby soul

sough, sought, sought-after, souk, soukous, soul, soul brother, soul cake, soul-destroying, soul food, soulful

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use soul in a sentence

The Senate likes to call itself “the world’s greatest deliberative body,” and the filibuster, at least in myth, is the soul of that deliberation.
The definitive case for ending the filibuster|Ezra Klein|October 1, 2020|Vox
Likewise, when celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, of Ethiopian and Swedish descent, opened soul food restaurant Red Rooster in Harlem, New York, in 2010, some criticized it for contributing to gentrification by catering to outsiders.
The Stages of Gentrification, as Told by Restaurant Openings|Vince Dixon|September 30, 2020|Eater
All the same, Stone Locals is a compelling depiction of the soul of the sport.
3 New Documentaries to Stream This Fall|Erin Berger|September 21, 2020|Outside Online
As a Belarusian citizen, my heart hurts, and my soul is tired.
A Proud Belarusian’s Heartbreak|Tracy Moran|August 18, 2020|Ozy

We started with a major open space idea as we sculpted our plan, and it has now rightfully emerged as the soul of the project.
Public Benefits Define Midway Proposal|Frank Wolden, Aruna Doddapaneni and Colin Parent|July 21, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Education controls the transmission of values and molds the spirit before dominating the soul.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But damn, the music is catchy—a neo-soul aural assault of horns, electro swirls, yelps, funky basslines, and harmonized vocals.
The 14 Best Songs of 2014: Bobby Shmurda, Future Islands, Drake, and More|Marlow Stern|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ragtime, blues, country, jazz, soul, and rock and roll were all pioneered or inspired by black artists.
The Cultural Crimes of Iggy Azalea|Amy Zimmerman|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The gathering of the thousands of cops had been a soul-stirring sight.
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos|Michael Daly|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You mix up English working-class gruffness with African-American soul from the Deep South.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker|Ted Gioia|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the liberal soul deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
Words are often everywhere as the minute-hands of the soul, more important than even the hour-hands of action.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
Monotheism is strictly inconsistent with the supremacy of “merits” which is the very soul of Oriental religion.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
Some critics feel that, despite much that is desirable in her work, the soul is lacking in the women she paints.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
David says, that his soul was full of trouble, and his life drew near unto the grave.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe

British Dictionary definitions for soul (1 of 2)

soul

/ (səʊl) /

noun

the spirit or immaterial part of man, the seat of human personality, intellect, will, and emotions, regarded as an entity that survives the body after deathRelated adjective: pneumatic

Christianity the spiritual part of a person, capable of redemption from the power of sin through divine grace

the essential part or fundamental nature of anything

a person's feelings or moral nature as distinct from other faculties

Also called: soul music a type of Black music resulting from the addition of jazz, gospel, and pop elements to the urban blues style
(as modifier)a soul singer

(modifier) of or relating to Black Americans and their culturesoul brother; soul food

nobility of spirit or temperamenta man of great soul and courage

an inspiring spirit or leading figure, as of a cause or movement

a person regarded as typifying some characteristic or qualitythe soul of discretion

a person; individualan honest soul

the life and soul See life (def. 28)

upon my soul! an exclamation of surprise

Derived forms of soul

soul-like, adjective

Word Origin for soul

Old English sāwol; related to Old Frisian sēle, Old Saxon sēola, Old High German sēula soul

British Dictionary definitions for soul (2 of 2)

Soul

/ (səʊl) /

noun

Christian Science another word for God

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with soul

soul

In addition to the idiom beginning with soul

soul of, the

also see:

bare one's soul
heart and soul
keep body and soul together
kindred spirit (soul)
living soul

soul

OTHER WORDS FOR soul

Origin of soul

OTHER WORDS FROM soul

Words nearby soul

Words related to soul

How to use soul in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for soul (1 of 2)

Derived forms of soul

Word Origin for soul

British Dictionary definitions for soul (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with soul