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
b
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 back—
J. A. Froude
J. 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
spirited; spiriting; spirits
1
: to infuse with spirit
2
: to carry off usually secretly or mysteriously
was hustled into a … motorcar and spirited off to the country—W. L. Shirer
W. L. Shirer
Synonyms
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 WebSebastian Smee, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023
This is exactly the spirit in which this movie should be made.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
Given the decade-hopping spirit of De Sarno’s collection, however, Ronson also wanted to sprinkle in a few more contemporary touches.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2023
The sparse visual for the track — which only features the colors black, white and gray — sees William grappling with his inner-monologue and looking into the mirror to fight off a dark smoke that threatens to overtake his spirit.
—Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2023
Adapt your spaces to nurture mind, body and spirit.
—Nancy Black, cleveland, 20 Sep. 2023
Much like the waters that house her almighty spirit, the titular figure in Zalika Reid-Benta’s River Mumma (Penguin Canada) holds many stories, a host of deities.
—Hazlitt, 20 Sep. 2023
What happened next showcased the true spirit of John Carroll girls soccer (2-3).
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 19 Sep. 2023
Guests ages 21 and older can enjoy the beer garden featuring traditional German brews, local beer, wine and spirits.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023
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
Newgarden survives final nervous caution That spirited ‘Newgarden against the field’ show seemed to be well under control by the No. 2 Chevy until 10 laps to go, with Rosenqvist (who finished fourth) had once shadowed Newgarden by less than half a second early in the final stint in second place.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 23 July 2023
In 1965, Ronnie Biggs, a member of the gang that carried out the Great Train Robbery of 1963, scaled the prison’s wall with a rope ladder and was spirited away in a van parked outside.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Loose pucks Some seven weeks after spiriting away Connor Clifton from the Bruins for a three-year/$10 million deal, the Sabres cleared $2.75 million off their back end by shipping Ilya Lyubushkin, 29, to the Ducks for a fourth-round pick in 2025.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2023
Launched with a cafe on Northeast Fremont Street in late 2002 and serving sour cream coffee cake and a few specialty drinks familiar to fans of the original Coffee People, Jim & Patty’s Coffee , brought the Coffee People spirit back to life for the chain’s many fans.
—Mrussell, oregonlive, 18 July 2023
But a network of friends spirited him onto a boat and raced him up the coast.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2023
Basically Beethoven Festival concert, piano quartets by Mozart and Schumann got spirited but subtly inflected performances.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 4 Aug. 2023
See More
Noun
Hauser & Wirth — which is led also by Manuela Wirth (Iwan’s wife) and Marc Payot — remains the most self-consciously European in spirit.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023
This is exactly the spirit in which this movie should be made.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
Given the decade-hopping spirit of De Sarno’s collection, however, Ronson also wanted to sprinkle in a few more contemporary touches.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2023
The sparse visual for the track — which only features the colors black, white and gray — sees William grappling with his inner-monologue and looking into the mirror to fight off a dark smoke that threatens to overtake his spirit.
—Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2023
Adapt your spaces to nurture mind, body and spirit.
—Nancy Black, cleveland, 20 Sep. 2023
Much like the waters that house her almighty spirit, the titular figure in Zalika Reid-Benta’s River Mumma (Penguin Canada) holds many stories, a host of deities.
—Hazlitt, 20 Sep. 2023
What happened next showcased the true spirit of John Carroll girls soccer (2-3).
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 19 Sep. 2023
Guests ages 21 and older can enjoy the beer garden featuring traditional German brews, local beer, wine and spirits.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023
Verb
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
Newgarden survives final nervous caution That spirited ‘Newgarden against the field’ show seemed to be well under control by the No. 2 Chevy until 10 laps to go, with Rosenqvist (who finished fourth) had once shadowed Newgarden by less than half a second early in the final stint in second place.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 23 July 2023
In 1965, Ronnie Biggs, a member of the gang that carried out the Great Train Robbery of 1963, scaled the prison’s wall with a rope ladder and was spirited away in a van parked outside.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Loose pucks Some seven weeks after spiriting away Connor Clifton from the Bruins for a three-year/$10 million deal, the Sabres cleared $2.75 million off their back end by shipping Ilya Lyubushkin, 29, to the Ducks for a fourth-round pick in 2025.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2023
Launched with a cafe on Northeast Fremont Street in late 2002 and serving sour cream coffee cake and a few specialty drinks familiar to fans of the original Coffee People, Jim & Patty’s Coffee , brought the Coffee People spirit back to life for the chain’s many fans.
—Mrussell, oregonlive, 18 July 2023
But a network of friends spirited him onto a boat and raced him up the coast.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2023
Basically Beethoven Festival concert, piano quartets by Mozart and Schumann got spirited but subtly inflected performances.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 4 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
Phrases Containing spirit
Dictionary Entries Near spirit
Cite this Entry
“Spirit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirit. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
spirit
1 of 2 noun
spir·it
ˈspir-ət 
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
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
Nglish: Translation of spirit for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of spirit for Arabic Speakers
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