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spirit

spirit

512 3.1
A person's mood or energy, often lively and positive
  • noun
  • /ˈspɪrɪt/
: ánimo
  • Even on a rainy day, he managed to keep his spirit high and share positive energy.
  • human spirit
  • a free spirit
  • Christmas spirit

Compete hard but play in the right spirit and respect your sport.

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Examples

  • Compete hard but play in the right spirit and respect your sport.

  • Because that generosity of spirit goes so far.

  • I just felt like my spirit was so heavy.

  • But the point is your spirit and God is enough.

  • We certainly are in good spirits tonight.

  • Four years ago, my goals and spirit resided in myself.

  • Your life and your mind and your spirit is conspiring to help you.

  • We had fun, but Gerty was a free spirit.

  • Many of the researchers whose work we have reviewed have demonstrated this spirit of inquiry.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Many of these celebrants like to think they are sustaining, at least in spirit, their remote ancestors' festivities.

    Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

energy
vsspirit
578 1.6

Lively excitement that makes people or work feel active

focuses more on current emotional tone rather than active drive
life
vsspirit
556 2.0

Energy that makes something feel active or interesting

is about temporary mood and energy rather than general vitality
mood
vsspirit
234 2.1

The general feeling of a person, group, or place at a time

emphasizes lively or positive energy rather than neutral feeling
vibe
vsspirit
  • Informal
223 6.4

A mood you feel from a place, person, or music

is focused on an individual's inner mood and energy, not just perception
cheer
vsspirit
68 1.0

A feeling of happiness that makes people less sad

is more about a person's internal feeling rather than creating joy for others
emotional state
vsspirit
23 3.6

A person's feelings at a certain time

focuses more on upbeat, lively energy rather than general feeling
positive energy
vsspirit
  • Informal
15 3.5

A hopeful, friendly feeling that makes people feel happy and active

is wider, referring to any emotional state, not only optimism
high spirits
vsspirit
15 3.2

A strong feeling of being very happy and excited

is broader, used for general emotional energy not only very happy times
affect
vsspirit
  • Specialized
10 9.5

The way a person shows feelings on their face or in their voice

is about the person's own mood and energy rather than outward signs
vibrancy
vsspirit
7 4.6

A strong, lively energy and brightness in people, places, or things

is about an emotional state rather than visual brightness or color
in high spirits
vsspirit
5 3.0

Feeling very happy and full of energy

covers general emotional energy, not only brief cheerfulness
energy level
vsspirit
5 3.7

How lively and active a place or group feels at a time

is more emotional and mood centered than a measure of activity
liveliness
vsspirit
3 3.4

A feeling of energy and excitement that makes people active

focuses more on internal mood rather than surface activity
vibrance
vsspirit
1 4.9

A bright, lively look or feeling that shows energy

relates more to inner feeling and positivity than outward vividness
ebullience
vsspirit
1 8.5

A feeling of cheerful, lively energy that people show

is broader, covering general upbeat feeling not only exuberance
spiritedness
vsspirit
1 5.6

A quality of being lively and full of energy

is about a person's present emotional state rather than lasting trait
sprightliness
vsspirit
1 7.2

A lively, energetic way of moving or acting

is more about inner emotional energy than physical quickness
1 3.7

A happy relaxed feeling when people laugh and joke

can include that cheer but also other lively positive emotional states
vivaciousness
vsspirit
1 7.0

A strong, happy energy that makes someone lively

relates more to momentary mood and energy than to personality
ruach
vsspirit
9.9

The energy or mood people feel in a group

is more about an individual being lively and positive

Antonyms

depression
  • Specialized
384 3.7

A long lasting medical illness of deep sadness that needs treatment by a doctor

43 6.2

A lack of interest or care about things

Compounds

114 4.5

The presence of God that Christians believe works in the world to guide and comfort people

evil spirit
  • Literature
50 6.8

A ghost or invisible being people believe causes harm and bad luck

35 1.8

A warm, generous feeling people have at Christmas time

34 4.8

A person who follows their own way and ignores social rules

spirit world
  • Literature
31 7.9

A place where spirits like ghosts, angels, or ancestors live

11 2.4

A feeling of pride and support that helps a group work well together

good spirit
  • Literature
8 7.8

A kind spirit that protects people and brings good luck

A strong will and courage to keep trying against difficulties

spirit animal
  • Literature
4 7.0

An animal believed to show a person's character or guide them

A feeling that makes people feel they belong and help each other

A wish to take risks and try new things

guardian spirit
  • Literature
2 7.9

A protective being or angel that watches over a person

spirit gum
  • Specialized
2 8.1

Glue that sticks fake hair or makeup pieces to skin

A strong feeling of being able to act without limits

water spirit
  • Literature
1 9.8

A magical being in stories that lives in rivers, lakes, or the sea

familiar spirit
  • Literature
1 9.9

A small magical animal that helps a witch or wizard

1 7.5

A thing that matches someone's mood or personality, often said jokingly

1 7.0

Strong loyalty to a political party that makes you biased

disembodied spirit
  • Literature
1 9.5

A spirit without a body that appears to people or stays near places

1 4.9

A feeling of pride and responsibility for your town that makes you help improve it

A lively, friendly way of acting that likes fun and makes people laugh

A strong will to keep trying when things are hard

wood spirit
  • Specialized
1 9.4

A poisonous alcohol people make by heating wood, used as fuel or solvent

Alcohol made unsafe to drink by adding poisons and used for cleaning or as a fuel

1 4.1

A tool with a closed tube and a bubble to check if surfaces like a shelf are flat or upright

spirit lamp
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A small lamp that burns alcohol to heat things in a lab

1 8.0

A determined, practical way of working hard and never giving up, often linked to people from the northern United States

proof spirit
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A liquid with fifty percent alcohol that serves as a standard for measuring alcohol strength

spirit rapper
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who makes knocking sounds and says they are messages from the dead

A strong wish to travel and live in different places

spirit rapping
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A way people think ghosts answer by making short knocking sounds

spirit of turpentine
  • Specialized
1 9.0

A strong liquid used to thin oil paint and clean brushes

camphor spirit
  • Archaic
7.4

A liquid made of alcohol and camphor used to rub on the skin or breathe in for cough relief

A strong feeling of people working together and being determined in hard times

Excitement and eagerness a new person shows when starting a job or class

A lively joyful feeling that shows in energetic Ukrainian dance

9.9

A joking way to show strong American pride, for example with flags and eagles

Rhodie spirit
  • Jargon
9.1

A strong feeling of pride and unity at Rhododendron University events

A strong alcohol used to clean skin before injections or surgery

8.1

A small portable cooker that burns alcohol for cooking and heating

9.4

A strong wish to keep trying that cannot be stopped

Yesvember spirit
  • Neologism
9.9

A positive, open attitude people choose in November

zombi spirit
  • Literature
9.9

A spirit in voodoo that makes a dead body come back to life

zombie spirit
  • Literature
9.9

A ghost believed to bring a dead body back to life

How Energetic

exuberance
27 6.7
vigor
  • US
26 3.4
spirit
512 3.1
energy
442 1.0
apathy
43 6.2

Surface Forms

spirit singular
spirits plural

Etymology

Spirit comes from the old Latin word spiritus meaning 'breath' or life, so think of it as the 'breathing energy' inside a person. That's why when your spirit is high you feel lively and full of energy.