sprightly

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adjective spright·ly \-lē\

Definition of sprightly

sprightlier

;

sprightliest

1 : marked by a gay lightness and vivacity : spirited a sprightly musical
2 : having a distinctively piquant taste : zesty a sprightly salsa

sprightliness

noun

sprightly

adverb

See sprightly defined for English-language learners

See sprightly defined for kids

sprightly was our Word of the Day on 03/04/2015. Hear the podcast!

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 of sprightly from the Web

This method gives the 4.2% ABV beer a solid blended base offering subtle oak notes from the old beer and the fresh, sprightlier characteristics from the new.

— USA TODAY, "Beer Man: Savoring the wonders of a good fruit beer," 25 June 2017
That’s a challenge for the new Q5, a tidy little SUV that doesn’t stand out despite sprightly performance and good fuel economy.

— mark phelan, Detroit Free Press, "Review: 2018 Audi Q5 SUV fights a battle of inches," 21 June 2017
The ink and watercolor drawings, in a palette of soft greens, blues and golds with flashes of candy-cane red, are each an intricate invention, full of delicate curls and sprightly shadows.

— nara schoenberg, chicagotribune.com, "Nope, 'Nothing Rhymes With Orange': Adam Rex's new kids' book delights," 20 June 2017
Sprightly seniors — some sporting canes — trudged along the trail and a small grounds crew mowed the grassy fields in preparation for a bustling afternoon of youth sports.

— zak koeske, chicagotribune.com, "Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park: A charming and close-knit community bloc," 14 June 2017
The new Scientific American MIND will still bring you insightful, sprightly stories from both researchers who are experts in their fields and award-winning science journalists.

— mariette dichristina, Scientific American, "Welcome to the New Scientific American MIND," 12 June 2017
Strauss uses fresh herbs to infuse drinks with fresh, sprightly character.

— debbi snook, cleveland.com, "Lemon and Lavender Gin Cocktail (recipe)," 7 June 2017
The affable, soft-spoken Ax, though not a flamboyant performer, projected those qualities which keep Mozart fresh: fleet technique in near constant motion, a playful response to the orchestra, and sprightly melodies.

— by libby hanssen, kansascity.com, "Summertime energy: Pianist Emanuel Ax performs with Kansas City Symphony at Helzberg," 3 June 2017
The fire god Loge (Russell Thomas, sounding bronzed and burnished and wanting just a touch more viciousness) isn’t the usual sprightly trickster, but wry and thoughtful.

— zachary woolfe, New York Times, "Review: The Philharmonic Makes Wagner’s Gods Chillingly Human," 2 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sprightly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Sprightly comes from spright, an archaic version of the word we now use for an elf or fairy: sprite. Ariel from 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 that word is believed to be of Scandinavian origin.

Origin and Etymology of sprightly

obsolete spright (sprite), alteration of sprite

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1596

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of 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