spirited

1 of 2

adjective

spir·​it·​ed ˈspir-ə-təd 

: full of energy, animation, or courage

a spirited discussion

spiritedly adverb

spiritedness noun

spirited

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of spirit entry 2

Did you know?

You may see spirited used to describe a conversation, a debate, a horse, or a campaign. And it often shows up in such words as high-spirited ("bold and energetic"), mean-spirited ("spiteful"), and public-spirited ("generous to a community"), all of which reflect the original meaning of spirit, a notion much like "soul" or "personality".

Synonyms of spirited

Adjective

• fiery
• passionate
• spunky
• brisk
• high-spirited
• fervent
• peppery

Examples of spirited in a Sentence

Adjective

The team put up a spirited defense.

She's a very spirited young lady.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

These two exceedingly nimble keyboardists teamed for a rousing take on Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski’s intensely spirited Variations on a Theme of Paganini. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Scenes like these played out every day during my month-long visit, showcasing a spirited and diverse community rather than one at risk of total desolation. — Liz Provencher, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026

Her latest record, Confessions II, celebrated as her best album in 20 years and a spirited follow-up to 2005’s Confessions on a Dance Floor, was accompanied by a short film that led to this wealth of nominations. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Shout out though to Rosen Naydenov & Balint Bako, who made a spirited run to the quarters before falling to to the eventual gold medalists. — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spirited

• high-spirited
• low-spirited
• mean-spirited
• poor-spirited
• public-spirited

Rhymes for spirited

• dispirited

Kids Definition

spirited

adjective

spir·​it·​ed ˈspir-ət-əd 

: full of courage or energy

a spirited discussion

spiritedly adverb