1
: the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life
2
a
: the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe
b
3
: a person's total self
4
a
: an active or essential part
b
: a moving spirit : leader
5
a
: the moral and emotional nature of human beings
b
: the quality that arouses emotion and sentiment
c
: spiritual or moral force : fervor
6
: person
not a soul in sight
7
: personification
she is the soul of integrity
8
a
: a strong positive feeling (as of intense sensitivity and emotional fervor) conveyed especially by African American performers
b
: cultural consciousness and pride among people of African heritage
c
d
e
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Black Americans or their culture
It will feature various local musicians such as Faithe, Rashawn Stallworth and Jamal Steele, all who embody a hip-hop and soul style to their music.—
Kamal Morgan
see also soul brother, soul food, soul music, soul sister
Kamal Morgan
Synonyms
Examples of soul in a Sentence
Noun
the souls of the dead
He could not escape the guilt that he felt in the inner recesses of his soul.
Some poor soul was asking for handouts on the street.
a village of barely a hundred souls
Recent Examples on the WebNikki Dobrin, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023
Juan arrived at the monastery after a brutal encounter at a bar that left his body as battered as his soul had been.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2023
But a different way to introduce some much welcome complexity, one that retains the soul of the drink, is to swap out some of the ingredients.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2023
Back in the Big Easy, a conflicted Ross has a heart-to-heart with Tool, who delivers a rambling, semi-intelligible monologue about losing their soul as a result of the job.
—Richard Newby, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2023
Mayor Wells and Friends Annual Concert El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and his all-star band will perform pop and soul classics from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Magnolia, 210 E. Main St.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2023
If fresh fruit tops the list of things that feed her soul, gift Mom these delectable boxes of Royal Verano Pears from Harry & David.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2023
Someone please find the thief who stole Alabama’s soul this offseason.
—Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 16 Sep. 2023
Hand in hand with this influx comes the fostering of culture—a city needs a soul.
—Zachary Weiss, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2023
Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2023
On her debut album, the U.K. songstress’s soulful voice is transportive, atop a bed of neo-soul perfection.
—Cydney Lee, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2023
This tour, which was originally scheduled for 2020, celebrates two decades of that neo-soul cornerstone.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023
Billy was doing this R&B neo-soul Sondheim review and hired me to work on the project.
—Caitlin Brody, Glamour, 15 Mar. 2023
In theory, a lot of the neo-soul stuff was Tribe-esque beats with R&B singers on it.
—Vulture, 8 Mar. 2023
Singer-songwriter Yola talks about awakening to Jill Scott’s artistry during her teen years and how the neo-soul singer’s music continues to speak to her today.
—Delisa Shannon, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2023
Learn soul line-dances choreographed to R&B, jazz, gospel and Latin tunes.
—Linda McIntosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, 9 July 2018
Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh threw for nine touchdowns and was named the game's MVP.
—baltimoresun.com, 13 Aug. 2017
See More
Noun
Kylie is such a beautiful soul who is so generous with her energy and wants everyone to be happy.
—Nikki Dobrin, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023
Juan arrived at the monastery after a brutal encounter at a bar that left his body as battered as his soul had been.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2023
But a different way to introduce some much welcome complexity, one that retains the soul of the drink, is to swap out some of the ingredients.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2023
Back in the Big Easy, a conflicted Ross has a heart-to-heart with Tool, who delivers a rambling, semi-intelligible monologue about losing their soul as a result of the job.
—Richard Newby, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2023
Mayor Wells and Friends Annual Concert El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and his all-star band will perform pop and soul classics from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Magnolia, 210 E. Main St.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2023
If fresh fruit tops the list of things that feed her soul, gift Mom these delectable boxes of Royal Verano Pears from Harry & David.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2023
Someone please find the thief who stole Alabama’s soul this offseason.
—Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 16 Sep. 2023
Hand in hand with this influx comes the fostering of culture—a city needs a soul.
—Zachary Weiss, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2023
Adjective
Baby Rose took the mic next for a set of songs that spotlit her striking, jazzy vibrato tones and her warm neo-soul production alike.
—Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2023
On her debut album, the U.K. songstress’s soulful voice is transportive, atop a bed of neo-soul perfection.
—Cydney Lee, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2023
This tour, which was originally scheduled for 2020, celebrates two decades of that neo-soul cornerstone.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023
Billy was doing this R&B neo-soul Sondheim review and hired me to work on the project.
—Caitlin Brody, Glamour, 15 Mar. 2023
In theory, a lot of the neo-soul stuff was Tribe-esque beats with R&B singers on it.
—Vulture, 8 Mar. 2023
Singer-songwriter Yola talks about awakening to Jill Scott’s artistry during her teen years and how the neo-soul singer’s music continues to speak to her today.
—Delisa Shannon, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2023
Learn soul line-dances choreographed to R&B, jazz, gospel and Latin tunes.
—Linda McIntosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, 9 July 2018
Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh threw for nine touchdowns and was named the game's MVP.
—baltimoresun.com, 13 Aug. 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soul.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing soul
Dictionary Entries Near soul
Cite this Entry
“Soul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soul. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
soul
1 of 2 noun1
: the spiritual part of a person believed to give life to the body and in many religions thought to live forever
2
a
: the necessary part of something
b
: a person who leads or stirs others to action : leader
the soul of the campaign
3
a
: the part of one's personality having to do with feelings and the sense of what is right and wrong
felt my soul rebel against injustice
b
: spiritual force : fervor
4
: person
a kind soul
5
a
: a strong positive feeling conveyed especially by black American performers
b
souled
adjective
ˈsōld
soul
2 of 2 adjective1
: of or relating to black Americans or their culture
soul food
2
: designed for or controlled by blacks
soul radio stations
More from Merriam-Webster on soul
Nglish: Translation of soul for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of soul for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about soul
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