soldier

noun

sol·dier | \ ˈsōl-jər

Definition of soldier

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : one engaged in military service and especially in the army

b : an enlisted man or woman

c : a skilled warrior

2 : a militant leader, follower, or worker

3a : one of a caste of wingless sterile termites usually differing from workers in larger size and head and long jaws

b : one of a type of worker ants distinguished by exceptionally large head and jaws

4 \ ˈsō-jər

, ˈsōl- \ : one who shirks work

soldier

verb

soldiered; soldiering\ ˈsōl-jə-riŋ

, ˈsōlj-riŋ \

Definition of soldier (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to serve as a soldier

b : to behave in a soldierly manner

c : to push doggedly forward —usually used with on soldiered on to the end

2 : to make a pretense of working while really loafing

Other Words from soldier Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about soldier

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Other Words from soldier

Noun

soldierly \ ˈsōl-jər-lē

\ adjective or adverb

soldiership \ ˈsōl-jər-ˌship

\ noun

Examples of soldier in a Sentence

Noun

Many soldiers were wounded in combat. one of the goals of war is to keep as many soldiers as possible from being killed

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The only way to avoid these problems seems to be to make sure the techniques are safe for soldiers and reversible after they are discharged. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "Short-Term Superhuman: If We Create Augmented Soldiers, Can We Turn Them Back?," 25 Sep. 2018 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be in town to attend the fourth Invictus Games, the sports competition for wounded and ill soldiers and veterans that Harry founded in 2014. — Dan Barna, Teen Vogue, "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Residence in Sydney Revealed," 14 Aug. 2018 Going back further, it was used as a military hospital for American soldiers during World War II. — Daniel Rapaport, SI.com, "A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier Preivew: Picks, History, Field, Odds," 4 July 2018 The only exception, Mr. al-Hussein said, was a village massacre reported by Reuters that resulted in 10-year prison sentences for seven soldiers. — Nick Cumming-bruce, New York Times, "‘Have You No Shame?’ Myanmar Is Flogged for Violence Against Rohingya," 4 July 2018 The national cemetery also is the burial site for over 5,500 soldiers killed in American wars dating back to the Civil War. — Emma Austin, The Courier-Journal, "Broke? Hit up these top places for a fun (and free) day in Louisville," 19 June 2018 Until now, the view had been reserved for soldiers. — Spud Hilton, SFChronicle.com, "SF’s newest hotel may have best view in town," 18 June 2018 Two Russian planes carrying soldiers landed in Caracas in a show of support for Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, drawing a rebuke from Washington on Monday, as the authoritarian leader defied U.S. efforts to oust him. — Ryan Dube, WSJ, "U.S. Chides Russia for Military Aid to Venezuela," 25 Mar. 2019 However, the southern states opted to create their own day specifically for Confederate soldiers. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "When Is Memorial Day? Here's What You Need to Know About the Observance," 1 Mar. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Lacking any breakthrough in bulletproof armor technology the M1 soldiered on through Korea and the Vietnam War. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "How U.S. Military Helmets Went From Stopping Rocks to Stopping Bullets," 18 May 2017 Dion soldiered through, still taking in each gown while dotting her eyes with a handkerchief. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Céline Dion's Reactions at Couture Fashion Shows Are More Beautiful Than Any Dress Could Be," 24 Jan. 2019 But even as Facebook Live’s popularity has vanished into the ether, Legere and Slow Cooker Sunday have soldiered on. — Chaim Gartenberg, The Verge, "T-Mobile is releasing a Slow Cooker Sunday cookbook by CEO John Legere," 6 Dec. 2018 But eventually, as guests wound up atop tables and chairs to show off their dance moves, their shoes were left aside—but Tiffany Haddish soldiered on. — Zachary Weiss, Vogue, "Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lily Aldridge, and Joan Smalls Welcome Their Latest Campaign for Jimmy Choo," 9 Sep. 2018 Fans were drawn to Mr. Friend’s mix of reserve and vulnerability, his portrait of a man soldiering on despite serious PTSD. — Alexis Soloski, New York Times, "Rupert Friend Is Tired of Killing," 14 June 2018 The cost to cave was measured against the certainty that the company would soldier on with a chance at greatness. — Neil Senturia, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Why don't we heed risk warnings?," 9 July 2018 Founders Billy Lemmons and Bill Waldrip soldiered through the downturn, which also hit the oil and gas industry, and emerged in 2010 with a first fund of nearly $800 million. — Rye Druzin, San Antonio Express-News, "San Antonio energy investors pump billions into oil and gas projects," 2 July 2018 Meanwhile, senators soldiered on trying to broker a compromise. — Lisa Mascaro, The Seattle Times, "GOP leaders eye new bill on family separations at border," 25 June 2018

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