spree
noun
a lively frolic or outing.
spree
1 American
[spree]
/ spri /
noun
-
sprees
plural
-
a lively frolic or outing.
-
a bout or spell of drinking to intoxication; binge; carousal.
-
a period, spell, or bout of indulgence, as of a particular wish, craving, or whim.
an eating spree; a spending spree.
-
a period or outburst of extreme activity.
the team’s scoring spree;
no motive for his killing spree.
Spree
2
American
[shpr ay]
/ ʃpreɪ /
noun
spree
British
/ spriː /
noun
-
a session of considerable overindulgence, esp in drinking, squandering money, etc
-
a romp
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of spree
First recorded in 1795–1805; origin uncertain
Explanation
If you go on a spree, you go a little wild, indulging in some activity in an unrestrained way. You might go on a cupcake spree every year on your birthday, eating as many cupcakes as you can. Following your impulses and giving in to them — rather than resisting or limiting them — is one way to go on a spree. It can be a dancing spree, in which you dance all night long, or a shopping spree, in which you max out your credit card at the mall. The original slang meaning, and one that's still used today, is "a drinking bout," and it may be rooted in the French word esprit, "lively wit."
Vocabulary lists containing spree
St. Patrick's Day Vocabulary: Words With Irish and Gaelic Roots
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
English Words Derived from Gaelic
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Today, some of his investments appear better in hindsight than they did when FTX failed and prosecutors accused him of misappropriating billions of dollars in customer funds to go on a huge spending spree.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
The AI borrowing spree has also reshaped the bond market and helped drive yields higher.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 11, 2026
The extraordinary gifting spree for which he will be remembered began around 2023.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The amiable campaigners AFP accompanied on a recent sign-posting spree on Washington's uptown Georgia Avenue, did not match the profile of angry activists.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
That sets us off on another giggling spree.
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
Spending Spree: Wall Street’s tolerance for AI investment might seem to have no limits, but Google parent Alphabet found one Wednesday: $200 billion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
For now, the mood is exuberant at Renate, a labyrinthine club with multiple DJs housed in a dimly-lit complex near the Spree river, a Berlin institution which recently celebrated its 18th birthday.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025
The aquarium, located just across the Spree River from the Berlin Cathedral in the heart of the city, was a genuine attraction for the German capital.
From Slate ● Dec. 19, 2022
The path twists and turns, eventually heading across the Spree River and past the German parliament and the Brandenburg Gate, the backdrop for President Ronald Reagan’s famous 1987 “tear down this wall” speech.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 2, 2021
The first to be killed by police was a twenty-four-year-old tailor named Günter Litfin, who jumped fully clothed into Berlin’s Spree River and tried to swim across the water separating East and West.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Fake shopping sprees and ‘happiness insurance’: The latest fintech apps reveal our financial anxieties.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
Few companies are saying they plan to go on major hiring sprees, and employers are also making clear they are in the market for certain types of workers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Buying sprees of outlets led to owners who became highly leveraged and less able to invest in programming, which put the squeeze on suppliers such as CBS News Radio.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio testified in court about Low's wild spending sprees and lavish parties.
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
“I keep worrying that Mom will have one of her rare but overly thorough cleaning sprees and toss out everything under the bathroom sink.”
From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
