spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ə-təd 
: full of energy, animation, or courage
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
spiritedness
noun
Did you know?
You may see spirited used to describe a conversation, a debate, a horse, or a campaign. And it often shows up in such words as high-spirited ("bold and energetic"), mean-spirited ("spiteful"), and public-spirited ("generous to a community"), all of which reflect the original meaning of spirit, a notion much like "soul" or "personality".
Examples of spirited in a Sentence
The team put up a spirited defense.
She's a very spirited young lady.
Recent Examples on the Web
The rest of our stay here felt equal parts sentimental and sophisticated—pie-making sessions came with hard cider tastings; a spirited host recited dad jokes alongside chocolate and whiskey pairings; and movie nights in the barn were fueled by vintage candy and cocktails.
—
Alisha Prakash, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2025
Amber, who sculpts portraitures and takes care of their sick mom; Delia, who manages an apple farm where Charlie hides out; Bebe, who’s a free spirited DJ; and Cece, who’s a comparative lit professor.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 10 May 2025
The gathering had a large a spirited feel of a rally, as each AG took the stage to cheer of support from groups that included organized labor, veterans and educators.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025
Alice Waters, Directed by David Gelb Alice Waters, the spirited force behind American Farm-to-Table Cuisine, has carved a unique niche in the culinary world with her iconic restaurant, Chez Panisse.
—Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alisha Prakash, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2025
Amber, who sculpts portraitures and takes care of their sick mom; Delia, who manages an apple farm where Charlie hides out; Bebe, who’s a free spirited DJ; and Cece, who’s a comparative lit professor.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 10 May 2025
The gathering had a large a spirited feel of a rally, as each AG took the stage to cheer of support from groups that included organized labor, veterans and educators.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025
Alice Waters, Directed by David Gelb Alice Waters, the spirited force behind American Farm-to-Table Cuisine, has carved a unique niche in the culinary world with her iconic restaurant, Chez Panisse.
—Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ət-əd
: full of courage or energy
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share