spree

[ spree ]

/ spri /

noun

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.

Nearby words

spreading zone, spreadsheet, spreathed, sprechgesang, sprechstimme, spree, spree killer, sprekelia, sprent, sprier, spriest

Origin of spree

First recorded in 1795–1805; origin uncertain

Definition for sprees (2 of 2)

Spree

[ shprey ]

/ ʃpreɪ /

noun

a river in E Germany, flowing N through Berlin to the Havel River. 220 miles (354 km) long.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sprees

It was not a grand spree, for all sprees at Tough Case were grand, and they took place every Sunday.
Romance of California Life|John Habberton
His sprees didn't prevent our saving over four hundred dollars.
Lone Pine|R. B. (Richard Baxter) Townshend
She spoke composedly, not at all angry, being quite used to Coupeau's sprees and not holding them against him.
L'Assommoir|Emile Zola
Then they slept off their sprees and were ready to work Monday morning.
Sixty Years in Southern California 1853-1913|Harris Newmark

It was on one of these sprees that he took the foolish step which cost his mother days and days of lamentation and weeping.
Mayflower (Flor de mayo)|Vicente Blasco Ibez

British Dictionary definitions for sprees

spree

/ (spriː) /

noun

a session of considerable overindulgence, esp in drinking, squandering money, etc

a romp

Word Origin for spree

C19: perhaps changed from Scottish spreath plundered cattle, ultimately from Latin praeda booty

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