spry

[ sprahy ]

adjective

, spry·er, spry·est or spri·er, spri·est.

1. active; nimble; agile; energetic; brisk.

spry

/ spraɪ /

adjective

1. active and brisk; nimble

Derived Forms

• ˈspryly, adverb
• ˈspryness, noun

Other Words From

• spryly adverb
• spryness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spry¹

First recorded in 1740–50; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of spry¹

C18: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish dialect spragg sprig

Example Sentences

Staying spry and fit can help people stay sharp in their golden years.

From Science News For Students

Sometimes they’d bring in young, spry assistant coaches to play Embiid full-court, one-on-one.

From FiveThirtyEight

Yeager, a spry 74 years old, is flying an F-15 Eagle over Edwards Air Force Base, just outside Lancaster, California.

From Popular-Science

Not because he’s too old—the film seizes every opportunity to show Wayan diving into the ocean, paddling his boat, and otherwise being extremely spry.

From Outside Online

On the other, Martinez felt that Robles, though young and spry, may benefit from another break.

From Washington Post

For someone doing, as he puts it, “double duty,” the 59-year-old Condon looks remarkably spry.

From The Daily Beast

Last year, at the less than spry age of 34, he broke two bones in his back while leading his Everton team to an FA Cup win.

From The Daily Beast

On YouTube, Letterman was no match for his spry, versatile competition.

From The Daily Beast

Listening on the other side of the court was Edith Windsor herself, a spry 83-year-old with bright eyes and a pixie-like smile.

From The Daily Beast

Once more, Zoppé: An Italian Family Circus—170 years old and spry as ever—is off and running.

From The Daily Beast

These yer orphans 'll git their house back agin, and that's enough for them; they're young and spry, and k'n easy earn a livin'.

From Project Gutenberg

He is pretty spry when he gets started, but the thing is to start him.

From Project Gutenberg

This is the dullest of dull holes, still we manage to get a bit spry not and then.

From Project Gutenberg

My grandfather, though so small as to be almost diminutive, was spry and brave as an aroused wasp when anyone insulted him.

From Project Gutenberg

The words came from one of the boomers, a fat but spry old chap named Dunbar.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agile
• brisk
• energetic
• lithe
• robust
• sprightly