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• spirit
  spirit

  noun

  the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.
• Spirit
  Spirit

spirit

American  

[spir-it] / ˈspɪr ɪt /

noun

• spirits
  plural

1. the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.

2. the incorporeal part of humans.

   present in spirit though absent in body.

   Synonyms:

   essence, consciousness, mind, life

3. the soul regarded as separating from the body at death.

4. conscious, incorporeal being, as opposed to matter.

   the world of spirit.

5. a supernatural, incorporeal being, especially one inhabiting a place, object, etc., or having a particular character.

   evil spirits.

   Synonyms:

   shade, phantom, apparition

6. a fairy, sprite, or elf.

   Synonyms:

   hobgoblin, goblin

7. an angel or demon.

   Synonyms:

   genius

8. an attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervades thought, feeling, or action.

   the spirit of reform.

9. (initial capital letter) the divine influence as an agency working in the human heart.

10. a divine, inspiring, or animating being or influence. Numbers 11:25; Isaiah 32:15.

11. (initial capital letter) the third person of the Trinity; Holy Spirit.

12. the soul or heart as the seat of feelings or sentiments, or as prompting to action.

    a man of broken spirit.

13. spirits, feelings or mood with regard to exaltation or depression.

    low spirits; good spirits.

14. 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

15. temper or disposition.

    meek in spirit.

    Synonyms:

    humor, mood, attitude

16. an individual as characterized by a given attitude, disposition, character, action, etc..

    A few brave spirits remained to face the danger.

17. the dominant tendency or character of anything.

    the spirit of the age.

    Synonyms:

    complexion, sense, essence, gist, tenor, drift, nature

18. vigorous sense of membership in a group.

    college spirit.

19. the general meaning or intent of a statement, document, etc. (opposed to letter).

    the spirit of the law.

    Synonyms:

    purport, significance, intention

20. Chemistry. the essence or active principle of a substance as extracted in liquid form, especially by distillation.

21. Often spirits a strong distilled alcoholic liquor.

22. Chiefly British. alcohol.

23. Pharmacology. a solution in alcohol of an essential or volatile principle; essence.

24. any of certain subtle fluids formerly supposed to permeate the body.

25. the Spirit, God

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adjective

1. pertaining to something that works by burning alcoholic spirits.

   a spirit stove.

2. of or relating to spiritualist bodies or activities.

verb (used with object)

• spirits,
  present (3rd person singular)
• spirited,
  past participle,  past
• spiriting
  present participle

1. to animate with fresh ardor or courage; inspirit.

2. to encourage; urge on or stir up, as to action.

3. to carry off mysteriously or secretly (often followed by away oroff ).

   His captors spirited him away.

idioms

1. out of spirits, in low spirits; depressed.

   We were feeling out of spirits after so many days of rain.

spirit ¹ British  

/ ˈspɪrɪt /

noun

1. the force or principle of life that animates the body of living things

2. temperament or disposition

   truculent in spirit

3. liveliness; mettle

   they set to it with spirit

4. the fundamental, emotional, and activating principle of a person; will

   the experience broke his spirit

5. a sense of loyalty or dedication

   team spirit

6. the prevailing element; feeling

   a spirit of joy pervaded the atmosphere

7. state of mind or mood; attitude

   he did it in the wrong spirit

8. (plural) an emotional state, esp with regard to exaltation or dejection

   in high spirits

9. a person characterized by some activity, quality, or disposition

   a leading spirit of the movement

10. the deeper more significant meaning as opposed to a pedantic interpretation

    the spirit of the law

11. that which constitutes a person's intangible being as contrasted with his physical presence

    I shall be with you in spirit

12. 1. an incorporeal being, esp the soul of a dead person

    2. ( as modifier )

       spirit world

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verb

1. to carry off mysteriously or secretly

2. (often foll by up) to impart animation or determination to

spirit ² British  

/ ˈspɪrɪt /

noun

1. (often plural) any distilled alcoholic liquor such as brandy, rum, whisky, or gin

2. chem

   1. an aqueous solution of ethanol, esp one obtained by distillation

   2. the active principle or essence of a substance, extracted as a liquid, esp by distillation

3. pharmacol

   1. a solution of a volatile substance, esp a volatile oil, in alcohol

   2. ( as modifier )

      a spirit burner

4. alchemy any of the four substances sulphur, mercury, sal ammoniac, or arsenic

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Spirit ³ British  

/ ˈspɪrɪt /

noun

1. 1. another name for the Holy Spirit

   2. God, esp when regarded as transcending material limitations

2. the influence of God or divine things upon the soul

3. Christian Science God or divine substance

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spirit More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing spirit

• kindred spirit

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Synonym Usage

See ghost.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonspirit
  noun
• outspirit
  verb (used with object)
• spiritlike
  adjective
• unspiriting
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• spirits
  plural

Participles

• spiriting
  present
• spirited
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• spirit
  simple
• spirits
  simple
• have spirited
  perfect
• has spirited
  perfect
• am spiriting
  progressive
• are spiriting
  progressive
• is spiriting
  progressive
• have been spiriting
  perfect progressive
• has been spiriting
  perfect progressive

Past

• spirited
  simple
• had spirited
  perfect
• was spiriting
  progressive
• were spiriting
  progressive
• had been spiriting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will spirit
  simple
• will have spirited
  perfect
• will be spiriting
  progressive
• will have been spiriting
  perfect progressive

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spirit Spirit spirits spirited spiriting

Whatever your musical taste, “Musical Bodies” pulsates with spirit and soul alike.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

A similar spirit of reconciliation seems to be afoot in Wisconsin.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

The movie was made with a spirit of creativity and fun and now that they are promoting it, there is a challenge in maintaining that same mentality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Percussion underneath, horns above, their rendition of “Tequila!” with a ska spirit.

From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026

The Daily Democrat described the audience’s initial reaction to the sounds, “the more the ghost rapped … the higher rose the spirit of mirth.”

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Fire's men still have hopes of making the Eliminator, though, but must win big against Spirit in their match at 15:00 to boost their net run-rate.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

In a match between two eliminated sides, Livingstone hit 66 from 30 balls, while Brevis struck an unbeaten 55 from 31 as Spirit passed their target of 163 with 18 balls to spare.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

Dottin then whacked back-to-back fours to keep her side in contention but Nicola Carey held her nerve with six needed off the final ball and Spirit finished 119-8.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

MI London, who were previously winless in five games, slumped to 23-5 and 64-8 and were on the brink of elimination to their rivals London Spirit.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

That was the age-old pact between the hunters and the World Spirit.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

The crowded field of celebrity-backed spirits is generally one that I avoid.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

They try to keep their spirits up whatever way they can.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Regardless, Szoboszlai, Jones and Kostas Tsimikas, who was also in the clip, walked out together in good spirits, doing keepy-uppies and joking with each other right in front of the cameras.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

Seeing his place in its current state has dampened his spirits but not his determination to rebuild.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

Skeptical readers couldn’t help wondering why spirits of people who had lived in places as different as eighteenth-century Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, all sounded like a nineteenth-century Quaker abolitionist from western New York.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

The nerd didn’t quite get revenge, but actor Robert Carradine and Hans Stuck ran a spirited, back-and-forth race Sunday in the Bridgestone Potenza Supercar Race.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

K-pop group BTS is known for its spirited fan base.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

After his second meeting as chairman this week, Warsh told reporters he welcomes spirited discussion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Lifted by a spirited second-quarter showing, Mayo emerged for the second half and continued to rattle Kerry, shutting down space and flooding forward in numbers.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

It reminded her of the time in fourth grade when Bethany Williams had said her poncho was “really cool” before dissolving into mean- spirited giggles with the other girls.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

“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

Instead, after a spiriting comeback attempt came short on Saturday, the Suns are heading back to Milwaukee and the Bucks have a chance to prevent this series from lasting seven.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 20, 2021

Now the taxi turned right, spiriting her off in the opposite direction.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

• character
• courage
• energy
• enthusiasm
• essence
• heart
• humor
• life
• mood
• morale
• quality
• resolve
• temperament
• vigor
• vitality
• warmth
• will