spirit

1 of 2

noun

spir·​it ˈspir-ət How to pronounce spirit (audio)
1
: an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms
2
: a supernatural being or essence: such as
a
capitalized : holy spirit
c
: an often malevolent being that is bodiless but can become visible
specifically : ghost sense 2
d
: a malevolent being that enters and possesses a human being
3
: temper or disposition of mind or outlook especially when vigorous or animated
in high spirits
4
: the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person
5
a
: the activating or essential principle influencing a person
acted in a spirit of helpfulness
b
: an inclination, impulse, or tendency of a specified kind : mood
6
a
: a special attitude or frame of mind
the money-making spirit was for a time driven backJ. A. Froude
b
: the feeling, quality, or disposition characterizing something
undertaken in a spirit of fun
7
: a lively or brisk quality in a person or a person's actions
8
: a person having a character or disposition of a specified nature
9
: a mental disposition characterized by firmness or assertiveness
denied the charge with spirit
10
a
: distillate sense 1: such as
(1)
: the liquid containing ethanol and water that is distilled from an alcoholic liquid or mash
often used in plural
(2)
: any of various volatile liquids obtained by distillation or cracking (as of petroleum, shale, or wood)
often used in plural
b
: a usually volatile organic solvent (such as an alcohol, ester, or hydrocarbon)
11
a
: prevailing tone or tendency
spirit of the age
b
: general intent or real meaning
spirit of the law
12
: an alcoholic solution of a volatile substance
spirit of camphor
13
: enthusiastic loyalty
school spirit
14
capitalized Christian Science : god sense 1b

spirit

2 of 2

verb

spirited; spiriting; spirits

transitive verb

1
: to infuse with spirit
especially : animate
hope and apprehension of feasibleness spirits all industry John Goodman
2
: to carry off usually secretly or mysteriously
was hustled into a … motorcar and spirited off to the countryW. L. Shirer
Choose the Right Synonym for spirit

courage, mettle, spirit, resolution, tenacity mean mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship.

courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

Examples of spirit in a Sentence

Noun the spirits of my ancestors Some religions believe that the same spirit is reincarnated many times in different bodies. Yoga is very healthy for both body and spirit. We will all miss her generous spirit. My father was a proud spirit. Verb The singer was spirited away in a limousine after the show. Some of the funds had been spirited away to other accounts. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Troisgros kitchen combines the experimental exactitude of a laboratory with the creative spirit of an artist’s studio and the tensely expectant energy of the wings of a theatre, and Wiseman is alive to it all. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2023 Trending Hodges: Remember, the ‘Pepsi Generation’ was a 20-year marketing campaign targeting the younger generation, emphasizing youthfulness, vitality, and the spirit of the times. Steve Simoncic, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023 Jane Alexander plays Carol, trying to bolster her children’s spirits in an idyllic Bay Area suburb in the wake of an atomic strike. Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023 On a more serious note, the president addressed the spirit of the Thanksgiving, and made reference to the recent death of former first lady Rosalynn Carter. Molly Nagle, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2023 Advertisement Getting beers and spirits to restaurants, bars and any place with a liquor license in San Diego County requires a round-the-clock operation with dedicated workers. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Nov. 2023 Something about the spirit of the franchise had traction, spawning midnight screenings and reissued soundtracks. Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023 Those are then macerated in a neutral cane spirit for six months to create the core Ancho Reyes expression. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 17 Nov. 2023 The musicians are joining forces with their food brands to get in the holiday spirit with a social campaign starting Nov. 9 and PEOPLE has the exclusive first-look. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
Verb
The Israeli government says 199 captives were spirited across the border into Gaza as hostages. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2023 The session dragged on for 10 hours and was, at times, spirited. Mike Damiano, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2023 With one of our zero-proof Thanksgiving drinks, Turkey Day can be spirited without the spirits. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2023 Plucked from a junior choir in Alabama and spirited back to Georgia, Lutiebelle is the key to Purlie’s whole enterprise. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2023 Review: ‘Hamilton’ opens back in Chicago, as spirited and moving as ever First-timers got special buttons when Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical about the Founding Fathers opened back in the Loop Thursday night. Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023 Smith, the Patriots’ backbone at center back, made a spirited run forward with the ball that went for naught. Glenn Graham, Baltimore Sun, 14 Sep. 2023 The drunker and more spirited the fans the better as far as he is concerned. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2023 The pilot’s family, meanwhile, had reportedly been quietly spirited away to Ukraine in advance of the defection, and would soon be reunited with the defector. Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 30 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spirit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, espirit, spirit, from Latin spiritus, literally, breath, from spirare to blow, breathe

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spirit was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near spirit

Cite this Entry

“Spirit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirit. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

spirit

1 of 2 noun
spir·​it ˈspir-ət How to pronounce spirit (audio)
1
: a force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power : soul
2
a
capitalized : holy spirit
b
: a being (as a ghost) whose existence cannot be explained by the known laws of nature
3
: mood entry 1
in good spirits
4
: a lively or brisk quality
answered with spirit
5
: real meaning or intention
the spirit of the law
6
: an attitude governing one's actions
said in a spirit of fun
7
a
: a distilled alcoholic liquor
usually used in plural
b
: a solution in alcohol
often used in plural
spirits of camphor

spirit

2 of 2 verb
: to carry off secretly or mysteriously
Etymology

Noun

Middle English spirit "a life-giving force," derived from Latin spiritus, literally, "breath"

Medical Definition

spirit

noun
spir·​it ˈspir-ət How to pronounce spirit (audio)
1
a
: distillate
especially : the liquid containing ethyl alcohol and water that is distilled from an alcoholic liquid or mash
often used in plural
b
: a usually volatile organic solvent (as an alcohol, ester, or hydrocarbon)
2
: an alcoholic solution of a volatile substance
spirit of camphor

More from Merriam-Webster on spirit

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