spirit
1 of 2noun
spir·it ˈspir-ət 
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
: soul sense 2a
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
capitalized Christian Science : god sense 1b
spirit
2 of 2verb
spirited; spiriting; spirits
transitive verb
1
: to infuse with spirit
especially : animate
hope and apprehension of feasibleness spirits all industry —John Goodman
John Goodman 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
Noun
- psyche
- soul
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 WebHalie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Jan. 2023 And now producers in countries outside of Mexico are making their own agave spirits like Selva Negra, a new 100 percent agave spirit made in Germany’s Black Forest. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2023 G Flip has found a kindred spirit in partner Chrishell Stause. —Carita Rizzo, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2023 Clasping onto the sculptural form of a hand of unknown provenance puts a person in contact with a spirit who briefly overtakes the host’s body. —Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2023 Paik’s art had a let’s-try-it-on spirit that made even his follies worthy. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 26 Jan. 2023 This type of culture is borne from the diversity of our team, which necessitates a spirit of empathy, understanding and humility. —Edward Siedle, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023 Right up until his last breath, David Crosby remained a singularly restless spirit. —Corbin Reiff, SPIN, 25 Jan. 2023 Want a nonalcoholic spirit that can replace the gin in your G&Ts and gimlets (and look stunning on your bar cart)? —Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 24 Jan. 2023 Malcolm Forbes, Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2023 At Culiacan’s airport, a Mexican military flight was able to spirit Guzmán away to Mexico City. —Mark Stevenson And Maria Verza, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Jan. 2023 At Culiacan’s airport, a Mexican military flight was able to spirit Guzmán away to Mexico City. —Mark Stevenson, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Jan. 2023 The ordeal has drawn in the U.S. departments of Defense, Justice and State, which have argued that the attempt to spirit away a citizen of another country could significantly harm military and foreign relations. —Dallas News, 24 Oct. 2022 The ordeal has drawn in the U.S. departments of Defense, Justice and State, which have previously argued that the attempt to spirit away a citizen of another country could significantly harm military and foreign relations. —Martha Mendoza, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Oct. 2022 The ordeal has drawn in the U.S. departments of Defense, Justice and State, which have argued that the attempt to spirit away a citizen of another country could significantly harm military and foreign relations. —Anchorage Daily News, 20 Oct. 2022 But with 24/7 ferries to spirit you from central Amsterdam to Noord in mere minutes, staying downtown is another option. —Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2022 Journey to the brilliant blue ice giant Neptune, where an ocean liner will spirit you through a sea of water and other melted ices, as shown in this image. —Discover Magazine, 12 Jan. 2015 See More
Noun
She's also given up on finding love for herself, until a tragic trip back to her family's hometown introduces her to a spirit with unresolved conflicts in the real world: Her handsome but hard-to-please editor. —Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Jan. 2023 And now producers in countries outside of Mexico are making their own agave spirits like Selva Negra, a new 100 percent agave spirit made in Germany’s Black Forest. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2023 G Flip has found a kindred spirit in partner Chrishell Stause. —Carita Rizzo, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2023 Clasping onto the sculptural form of a hand of unknown provenance puts a person in contact with a spirit who briefly overtakes the host’s body. —Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2023 Paik’s art had a let’s-try-it-on spirit that made even his follies worthy. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 26 Jan. 2023 This type of culture is borne from the diversity of our team, which necessitates a spirit of empathy, understanding and humility. —Edward Siedle, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023 Right up until his last breath, David Crosby remained a singularly restless spirit. —Corbin Reiff, SPIN, 25 Jan. 2023 Want a nonalcoholic spirit that can replace the gin in your G&Ts and gimlets (and look stunning on your bar cart)? —Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 24 Jan. 2023 Verb
Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, Irish envoy to the Vatican, has assembled a ragtag group to spirit to safety those fleeing Nazi persecution. —Malcolm Forbes, Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2023 At Culiacan’s airport, a Mexican military flight was able to spirit Guzmán away to Mexico City. —Mark Stevenson And Maria Verza, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Jan. 2023 At Culiacan’s airport, a Mexican military flight was able to spirit Guzmán away to Mexico City. —Mark Stevenson, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Jan. 2023 The ordeal has drawn in the U.S. departments of Defense, Justice and State, which have argued that the attempt to spirit away a citizen of another country could significantly harm military and foreign relations. —Dallas News, 24 Oct. 2022 The ordeal has drawn in the U.S. departments of Defense, Justice and State, which have previously argued that the attempt to spirit away a citizen of another country could significantly harm military and foreign relations. —Martha Mendoza, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Oct. 2022 The ordeal has drawn in the U.S. departments of Defense, Justice and State, which have argued that the attempt to spirit away a citizen of another country could significantly harm military and foreign relations. —Anchorage Daily News, 20 Oct. 2022 But with 24/7 ferries to spirit you from central Amsterdam to Noord in mere minutes, staying downtown is another option. —Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2022 Journey to the brilliant blue ice giant Neptune, where an ocean liner will spirit you through a sea of water and other melted ices, as shown in this image. —Discover Magazine, 12 Jan. 2015 See More 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
Phrases Containing spirit
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
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
spirit 1 of 2
noun
1
as in soul
an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power the theological and philosophical belief that the spirit is superior to the body Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- soul
- essence
- psyche
- vitality
- life
- quintessence
- being
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- body
- flesh
2
as in mood
a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion had been in a combative spirit all week Synonyms & Similar Words
- mood
- mode
- attitude
- humor
- temper
- cheer
- heart
- belief
- mind
- emotion
- perspective
- feeling
- feather
- frame of mind
- outlook
- viewpoint
- mind-set
- conviction
- sensibility
- individuality
- personality
- standpoint
- sentiment
- vein
- opinion
- expression
- passion
- tone
- identity
- angle
- temperament
- sensitivity
- disposition
- judgment
- selfhood
- slant
- strain
- character
- sensitiveness
- responsiveness
- judgement
- makeup
- self-identity
- mettle
3
as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people Hamlet's late father appears to him in the form of a spirit and with the revelation that he was in fact murdered Synonyms & Similar Words
- ghost
- apparition
- vision
- phantom
- wraith
- familiar spirit
- poltergeist
- materialization
- demon
- haunt
- specter
- vampire
- phantasm
- angel
- zombie
- sprite
- shadow
- spectre
- spook
- fantasm
- ghoul
- daimon
- visitant
- bogy
- hant
- genie
- shade
- zombi
- familiar
- bogey
- genius
- jinn
- bogie
- jinni
- djinn
- devil
- doppelgänger
- succubus
- double
- doppelganger
- incubus
- lemures
- shaitan
- imp
- djinni
- fetch
- manes
- lamia
- fiend
- daemon
- cacodemon
4
as in liquor
spirits plural a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk a hotel bar that's well stocked with spirits Synonyms & Similar Words
- liquor
- drink
- alcohol
- booze
- juice
- stimulant
- sake
- bottle
- lush
- beer
- wine
- ardent spirits
- rum
- cocktail
- firewater
- ale
- load
- brew
- intoxicant
- vodka
- strong drink
- aqua vitae
- grog
- whiskey
- moonshine
- hooch
- tipple
- potable
- tequila
- brandy
- inebriant
- sauce
- pop
- chaser
- gin
- whisky
- shooter
- aperitif
- shot
- snort
- mum
- tot
- mixed drink
- mead
- liqueur
- slug
- whet
- belt
- bracer
- peg
- John Barleycorn
- malt liquor
- snifter
- home brew
- nip
- nightcap
- digestif
- microbrew
- brewage
- mescal
- schnapps
- barley-bree
- barley-broo
- Dutch courage
- saki
- brewski
- nappy
- mao-tai
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonintoxicant
spirit
2 of 2verb
as in to capture
Synonyms & Similar Words
- capture
- snatch
- abscond (with)
- impress
- crimp
- shanghai
- hijack
- seize
- waylay
- highjack
- steal
- cop
- kidnap
- abduct
- catch
- take
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- return
- deliver
- restore
- rescue
- redeem
- ransom
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of spirit are courage, mettle, resolution, and tenacity. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," 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
While the synonyms courage and spirit are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.
the courage to support unpopular causes
The words mettle and spirit can be used in similar contexts, but mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.
a challenge that will test your mettle
Although the words resolution and spirit have much in common, 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