guru

noun

gu·ru | \ ˈgu̇r-(ˌ)ü

, ˈgü-(ˌ)rü also gə-ˈrü\

plural gurus

Definition of guru

1 : a personal religious teacher and spiritual guide in Hinduism

2a : a teacher and especially intellectual guide in matters of fundamental concern has been a guru to many young writers

b : one who is an acknowledged leader or chief proponent became the guru of the movement

c : a person with knowledge or expertise : expert a computer guru

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about guru

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Did You Know?

In Hinduism, a guru is a personal spiritual teacher. In ancient India, knowledge of the Vedas (a body of liturgical literature) was transmitted orally from guru to pupil. The rise of the bhakti movement, which emphasizes the love of devotees for a personal god, further increased the importance of gurus, who were often looked on as living embodiments of spiritual truth and were identified with the deity. Gurus prescribe spiritual disciplines to their devotees, who follow their dictates in a tradition of service and obedience. Men or women may be gurus, though generally only men have established lineages.

Examples of guru in a Sentence

He has been a guru to many young writers. She's a self-proclaimed financial guru. Fitness gurus call it the hottest new exercise trend of the year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Athleticism comes in many forms, from world-dominating gymnasts to fitness gurus with disabilities. — Brittney Mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "A Day at the Gym With Jessamyn Stanley," 9 May 2019 Even makeup guru James Charles landed an invite to what's probably the most exclusive event in the world. — Jasmine Gomez, Seventeen, "People Are Really Pissed At This Comment James Charles Made About His Met Gala Appearance," 8 May 2019 Hosted by design guru Genevieve Gorder and judged by ELLE Decor's very own Editor-in-Chief Whitney Robinson, each week also includes one rotating guest judge, with some of the design industry’s most celebrated names. — Lucia Tonelli, ELLE Decor, "See the Dramatic Reveal from the Best Room Wins Series Premiere," 2 May 2019 Anyone can turn a yard or even a few pots into beautiful food, says Los Angeles gardening guru Lauri Kranz. — Jeanette Marantos, The Seattle Times, "4 tips for starting (or improving) an edible garden," 12 Apr. 2019 Athleticism comes in many forms, from world-dominating gymnasts to fitness gurus with disabilities. — Brittney Mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "The Hustle: Hunter McGrady on Her Fitness Routine," 11 Apr. 2019 Sure enough, decades of uber fashion, art, style, and club gurus collided at the Grill and the Pool for the joyous nuptial celebrations of Marc Jacobs and dashing funster candlesmith Char Defrancesco. — Robert Fairer, Vogue, "Inside Marc Jacobs’s Fashion-Filled Wedding at the Grill," 9 Apr. 2019 For the cannabis industry, endorsements from the unlikely combination of U.S. food guru Martha Stewart and Canada’s statistical agency should help tip the balance. — Carol Ryan, WSJ, "Cannabis Wants to Be as American as Apple Pie," 5 Mar. 2019 AJ Crimson Beauty View this post on Instagram A post shared by AJCRIMSON (@ajcrimson) on Dec 7, 2017 at 6:11pm PST To put it simply, AJ Crimson, is a makeup guru. — Maya Allen, Marie Claire, "The 15 Best Black-Owned Beauty Brands I'll Never Stop Talking About," 11 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'guru.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.