spirit
noun /ˈspɪrɪt/
/ˈspɪrɪt/
Idioms - [uncountable, countable] the part of a person that includes their mind, feelings and character rather than their body
- You are underestimating the power of the human spirit to overcome difficulties.
- Yoga is meant to unite the body, mind and spirit.
Extra Examples- It is a testimony to the triumph of the human spirit.
- She exudes a warmth and generosity of spirit.
- healing for body, mind and spirit
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- human
- in spirit
- spirits[plural] a person’s feelings or state of mind
- to be in high/low spirits
- They were all in good spirits as they set out.
- You must try and keep your spirits up (= stay cheerful).
- a song that never fails to lift my spirits
- My spirits sank at the prospect of starting all over again.
Extra Examples- We sang songs to keep our spirits up.
- She isn't in the best of spirits today.
- My mother was in excellent spirits.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- flagging
- keep up
- lift
- raise
- …
- lift
- rise
- in good, high, low, poor, etc. spirits
- [countable] (always with an adjective) a person of the type mentioned
- a brave spirit
- kindred spirits (= people who like the same things as you)
Extra Examples- She was a guiding spirit in primary education.
- He found kindred spirits in the peace movement.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- guiding
- leading
- moving
- …
- [uncountable] courage, energy or purpose
- Peter had a good game and showed his true spirit.
- They took away his freedom and broke his spirit.
- with spirit Although the team lost, they played with tremendous spirit.
Extra ExamplesTopics Personal qualitiesb2- He sang with great spirit.
- She has plenty of fighting spirit.
- They tortured him until he was broken in spirit.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- tremendous
- adventurous
- …
- be full of
- have
- display
- …
- with spirit
- broken in spirit
- [uncountable, singular] feelings of support towards a group, team or society
- There's not much community spirit around here.
- spirit of something Officials have praised the cooperative spirit of the joint task force.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- community
- party
- public
- …
- have
- develop
- foster
- …
- [singular] the typical or most important quality or mood of something
- spirit of something The exhibition captures the spirit of the age/times.
Extra Examples- It seemed to fit in with the spirit of the festival.
- His poetry summed up the spirit of the age.
- The exhibition captures the spirit of the Swinging Sixties.
- That song really captures the spirit of the times.
- They brought the spirit of carnival to their concerts.
- She embodies the spirit of revolution.
- the indomitable American spirit
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- right
- essential
- genuine
- …
- have
- enter into
- get into
- …
- in a spirit of
- spirit of
- be closer in spirit to something
- be similar in spirit to something
- be faithful to the spirit of something
- …
- [singular] a state of mind or mood; an attitude
- We approached the situation in the wrong spirit.
- ‘OK, I'll try’. ‘That's the spirit (= the right attitude).’
- The party went well because everyone entered into the spirit of things.
- I'm trying to get into the spirit of the holiday season.
Extra Examples- He's got the right spirit!
- I was just getting to the spirit of things when the party suddenly ended.
- They have the right spirit!
- Both sides have come together in a spirit of goodwill.
- They are all working together in a spirit of cooperation.
- He felt a kind of lightness in his spirit as the sun came up.
- a spirit of adventure
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- right
- essential
- genuine
- …
- have
- enter into
- get into
- …
- in a spirit of
- spirit of
- be closer in spirit to something
- be similar in spirit to something
- be faithful to the spirit of something
- …
- [uncountable] the real or intended meaning or purpose of something
- Obey the spirit, not the letter (= the narrow meaning of the words) of the law.
Extra Examples- The movie is true to the spirit of the book.
- The referee should try to obey the spirit as well as the letter of the law.
- an edict that violates the spirit of the Geneva Convention
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + spirit- obey
- be against
- be contrary to
- …
- the spirit of the law
- [countable] the soul thought of as separate from the body and believed to live on after death; a ghost
- He is dead, but his spirit lives on.
- It was believed that people could be possessed by evil spirits.
- a message from the spirit world
Extra ExamplesTopics Religion and festivalsb2- Owls were believed to be restless spirits who had returned to earth.
- She slept with a cross under the pillow to ward off evil spirits.
- Many people believe the spirit lives on after death.
- My spirit guide cares for me and protects me.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- ancestral
- evil
- malevolent
- …
- conjure up
- contact
- invoke
- …
- live on
- move somebody
- guide
- world
- body, mind and spirit
- the Holy Spirit
- the spirits of the dead
- …
- [countable] (old-fashioned) an imaginary creature with magic powers, for example, a fairy or an elf
- [countable, usually plural] (especially British English) a strong alcoholic drink
- I don't drink whisky or brandy or any other spirits.
Extra ExamplesTopics Drinksb2- A standard measure of spirits is 25ml.
- a single measure of spirits
Oxford Collocations Dictionary… of spirits- bottle
- measure
- drink
- [uncountable] a special type of alcohol used in industry or medicine see also methylated spirit, surgical spirit, white spirit
mind/feelings/character
courage/energy
feelings of support
typical quality
attitude
real meaning
soul
imaginary creature
alcohol
Word OriginMiddle English: from Anglo-Norman French, from Latin spiritus ‘breath, spirit’, from spirare ‘breathe’.
Idioms
as/when/if the spirit moves you
- as/when/if you feel like it
- I'll go for a run this evening, if the spirit moves me.
- Make a donation to the charity if the spirit moves you.
fighting spirit
- a feeling that you are ready to fight very hard for something or to try something difficult
in spirit
- in your thoughts
- I shall be with you in spirit (= thinking about you though not with you physically).
raise somebody’s spirits
- to make somebody feel more cheerful or brave synonym cheer up
- The sunny weather raised my spirits a little.
the spirit is willing (but the flesh is weak)
- (humorous, saying) you intend to do good things but you are too lazy, weak or busy to actually do them