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. ShirerSynonyms
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.
Recent Examples on the WebMike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2024
The Modelo, Corona and Pacifico company updated its fiscal year 2025 guidance on Sept. 3, lowering its net sales outlook to reflect slight headwinds in its beer business and ongoing challenges in wine and spirits.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2024
Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024
Stories with multiverses turn choice into trippy transit, spiriting characters through realities that differ from their own in slight but significant ways.
—Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spirit 
Noun
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, also known as the World Wine Guys, are wine, spirits, food, and travel writers, educators, and hosts.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2024
The Modelo, Corona and Pacifico company updated its fiscal year 2025 guidance on Sept. 3, lowering its net sales outlook to reflect slight headwinds in its beer business and ongoing challenges in wine and spirits.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2024
Verb
The film has the grace to spirit its characters away to a seaside village in its latter half where a dream logic descends and sadness and fantasy mix.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024
Stories with multiverses turn choice into trippy transit, spiriting characters through realities that differ from their own in slight but significant ways.
—Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spirit
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.
Dictionary Entries Near spirit
Cite this Entry
“Spirit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirit. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share