soul
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.
of, characteristic of, or for Black Americans or their culture: soul newspapers.
Origin of soul
1Other words for soul
Other words from soul
- soullike, adjective
- un·der·soul, noun
Words Nearby soul
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.
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 | EaterAll the same, Stone Locals is a compelling depiction of the soul of the sport.
As a Belarusian citizen, my heart hurts, and my soul is tired.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTBut 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 | THE DAILY BEASTRagtime, blues, country, jazz, soul, and rock and roll were all pioneered or inspired by black artists.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTYou 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 | THE DAILY BEASTBut the liberal soul deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand.
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. BallouMonotheism is strictly inconsistent with the supremacy of “merits” which is the very soul of Oriental religion.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature | Moncure Daniel ConwaySome 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 ClementDavid says, that his soul was full of trouble, and his life drew near unto the grave.
British Dictionary definitions for soul (1 of 2)
/ (səʊl) /
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 death: Related 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 culture: soul brother; soul food
nobility of spirit or temperament: a 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 quality: the soul of discretion
a person; individual: an honest soul
the life and soul See life (def. 28)
upon my soul! an exclamation of surprise
Origin of soul
1Derived forms of soul
- soul-like, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Soul (2 of 2)
/ (səʊl) /
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
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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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