sprightly

adjective

spright·​ly ˈsprīt-lē 

sprightlier; sprightliest

1

: full of life and vivacity : spirited

a sprightly older couple

a sprightly musical

2

: having a distinctively piquant taste : zesty

a sprightly salsa

sprightliness noun

sprightly adverb

Did you know?

Sprightly comes from spright, an archaic version of the word we now use for an elf or fairy: sprite. Ariel from William Shakespeare's The Tempest and the leprechaun of Irish mythology are often referred to as sprites, and it's no coincidence that both are characterized by their light, flitting movements and mannerisms. Sprite derives via Middle English and Old French from the Latin spiritus, which of course gives us spirit as well. A similar-looking adjective that can describe someone who is nimble and energetic is spry, but the origin of that word is not known.

Synonyms of sprightly

• lively
• energetic
• animated
• brisk
• active
• animate

Choose the Right Synonym for sprightly

lively, animated, vivacious, sprightly, gay mean keenly alive and spirited.

lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

Examples of sprightly in a Sentence

a sprightly child who often claims to be too tired to move when it's time to do chores

Recent Examples on the Web

Julius seems to have approached his spying with a sprightly, if naive, enthusiasm. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

Deutch was marvelous as Jean Seberg in last year’s Nouvelle Vague, Richard Linklater’s sprightly film about the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s New Wave classic Breathless. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026

Taking a cue from nickelodeon piano players, composer John Powell steers the mood with a vibrantly eclectic score of sprightly ragtime, violin pathos and popcorn crescendos. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Here in the famous Festival Theatre, the sprite Ariel, played in splendidly sprightly fashion by Marissa Orjalo, opens up the top of a piano, a piece of island flotsam and Prospero, in the form of the veteran actor Geraint Wyn Davies, shoves his coat inside, throws up his hands and closes the lid. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

obsolete spright (sprite), alteration of sprite

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sprightly

• brightly
• knightly
• lightly
• nightly
• rightly
• sightly
• slightly
• tightly
• whitely
• forthrightly
• fortnightly
• politely

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Kids Definition

sprightly

adjective

spright·​ly ˈsprīt-lē 

sprightlier; sprightliest

: full of spirit : lively

sprightliness noun

sprightly adverb