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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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

Afghan security forces, which number 195,000 soldiers and more than 150,000 police, have struggled to combat the insurgency. — Rahim Faiez, Fox News, "Peace in Afghanistan more elusive as Taliban shrug off talks," 11 July 2018 The American-led, 39-nation mission is expanding, with some 3,000 trainers being deployed to help train Afghan soldiers and police. — Craig Nelson, WSJ, "An Optimistic Pompeo, in Kabul, Urges Talks With Taliban," 10 July 2018 Maciel, who was the third U.S. service member to be killed in Afghanistan this year, was deployed in February as part of Trump's South Asia strategy, working on a brigade of advisers to train and advise Afghan soldiers and police. — NBC News, "Pompeo in Afghanistan: The Taliban 'cannot wait us out'," 9 July 2018 Thai soldiers and police gather in the mountains near the Tham Luang cave at the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in Chiang Rai province on June 30, 2018 as the rescue operation continues for the children of a football team and their coach. — Time, "'We Have Limited Time.' Thai Authorities Race Against the Rains to Free Soccer Team Trapped in a Cave," 6 July 2018 The stadium was under tight security, with soldiers and police searching everyone who entered. — Farai Mutsaka, BostonGlobe.com, "Zimbabwe leader backs out of first rally since deadly attack," 27 June 2018 Seven major access points in the capital of 5.5 million people are now run by soldiers or police, who also took total control of all public and private water trucks. — Patricia Laya, Bloomberg.com, "The Army Took Over the Spigots, Forcing Thirsty Venezuelans to Pay," 25 June 2018 Instead, the company specialises in uniforms for police, soldiers and security guards, which cannot be bought second-hand. — The Economist, "Rwanda refuses to remove tariffs on imports of used clothing," 31 May 2018 From there unfurls the classic narrative of the big-time picket-line-crossing sellout, struggling with his own role as a collaborator with evil rich guys as his old comrades soldier on. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, "Sorry to Bother You Is a Dystopian Send-Up of Dystopias," 13 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

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 Instead, the Dodgers have soldiered on without him. — Si.com Staff, SI.com, "Nine Innings: Jason Heyward's Turning Point, Expansion Possibilities and Bryce Harper's Struggles," 18 June 2018 Despite the setback, Abramovitz soldiered on and received his bachelor's degree from McGill University. — refinery29.com, "How This Woman Hacked Her Boyfriend's Email & Sabotaged His Music Career," 18 June 2018 Yet McConnell has soldiered on and, somehow, kept winning — getting Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, for example (and keeping Merrick Garland off it). — Jane Coaston, Vox, "Mitch McConnell just became the longest-serving Republican leader in history, even though his party hates him," 14 June 2018 My sister soldiered forth with another needlepoint, in the new colors, with a bushy yet barren wisteria in the front. — Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, "Attack of the purple ‘bean trees’," 6 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.