high-spirited

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high-spir·it·ed

(hī′spĭr′ĭ-tĭd)

adj.

1. Having a proud or unbroken spirit: a high-spirited horse.

2. Vivacious; lively: a high-spirited tune.

high′-spir′it·ed·ly adv.

high′-spir′it·ed·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

high-spirited

adj

vivacious, bold, or lively

ˌhigh-ˈspiritedly adv

ˌhigh-ˈspiritedness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

high′-spir′ited

adj.

1. characterized by energetic enthusiasm, elation, vivacity, etc.

2. boldly courageous; mettlesome.

[1625–35]

high′-spir′it•ed•ly, adv.

high′-spir′it•ed•ness, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.

high-spirited - joyously unrestrained

ebullient, exuberant

spirited - displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness

high-spirited

adjective lively, spirited, vivacious, vital, daring, dashing, bold, energetic, animated, vibrant, exuberant, bouncy, boisterous, fun-loving, ebullient, sparky, effervescent, alive and kicking, full of life, spunky (informal), full of beans (informal), frolicsome, mettlesome Her high-spirited demeanour was not ideally suited for palace life.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

high-spirited

adjective

1. Very brisk, alert, and full of high spirits:

animated, bouncy, chipper, dashing, lively, pert, spirited, vivacious.

Informal: peppy.

Idioms: bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, full of life.

2. Full of or characterized by a lively, emphatic, eager quality:

fiery, mettlesome, peppery, spirited, vibrant.

Informal: snappy.

Translations

high-spirited

[ˌhaɪˈspɪrɪtɪd] ADJ [person] → animado; [horse] → fogoso

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

high

(hai) adjective

1. at, from, or reaching up to, a great distance from ground-level, sea-level etc. a high mountain; a high dive; a dive from the high diving-board.

2. having a particular height. This building is about 20 metres high; My horse is fifteen hands high.

3. great; large; considerable. The car was travelling at high speed; He has a high opinion of her work; They charge high prices; high hopes; The child has a high fever/temperature.

4. most important; very important. the high altar in a church; Important criminal trials are held at the High Court; a high official.

5. noble; good. high ideals.

6. (of a wind) strong. The wind is high tonight.

7. (of sounds) at or towards the top of a (musical) range. a high note.

8. (of voices) like a child's voice (rather than like a man's). He still speaks in a high voice.

9. (of food, especially meat) beginning to go bad.

10. having great value. Aces and kings are high cards.

adverb

at, or to, a great distance from ground-level, sea-level etc. The plane was flying high in the sky; He'll rise high in his profession.

ˈhighly adverb

1. very; very much. highly delighted; highly paid; I value the book highly.

2. with approval. He thinks/speaks very highly of you.

ˈhighness noun

1. the state or quality of being high.

2. a title of a prince, princess etc. Your Highness; Her Highness.

ˈhigh-chair noun

a chair with long legs, used by a baby or young child at mealtimes.

ˌhigh-ˈclass adjective

of high quality. This is a high-class hotel.

higher education

education beyond the level of secondary school education, eg at a university.

high fidelity high quality and great accuracy (in the reproduction of sound). See also hi-fi

ˌhigh-ˈhanded adjective

done, acting, without consultation of, or consideration for, other people. a high-handed decision; A new headmaster should try not to be too high-handed.

ˌhigh-ˈhandedly adverb

ˌhigh-ˈhandedness noun

high jump

a sports contest in which people jump over a bar which is raised until no-one can jump over it.

ˈhighlands noun plural

a mountainous part of certain countries, especially (with capital) of Scotland.

ˈhigh-level adjective

involving important people. high-level talks.

ˈhighlight noun

the best or most memorable event, experience, part of something etc. The highlight of our holiday was a trip to a brewery.

verb

to draw particular attention to (a person, thing etc).

ˌhighly-ˈstrung adjective

very nervous; very easily upset or excited.

ˌhigh-ˈminded adjective

having or showing good or noble ideals, principles etc.

ˌhigh-ˈmindedness noun

ˌhigh-ˈpitched adjective

(of sounds, voices etc) high, sharp. a high-pitched, childish voice.

ˌhigh-ˈpowered adjective

(with an engine which is) very powerful. a high-powered motorboat/engine.

ˈhigh-rise adjective

with many storeys. She does not like living in a high-rise flat as the children cannot get out to play easily.

ˈhighroad noun

a main road.

high school

a secondary school. She goes to high school next year.

ˌhigh-ˈspirited adjective

showing high spirits. a high-spirited horse.

high spirits

enthusiasm, cheerfulness and energy. He's in high spirits today.

high street

(with capital when used as a name) the main street of a town etc, usually with shops etc.

high-tech (ˌhai ˈtek) noun

(also hi-tech, ~high technology) the use of advanced machines and equipment in industry.

adjective

(also hi-tech). high-tech industries.

high tide

the time when the tide is farthest up the shore. High tide today is at 15.46; They set sail at high tide.

high treasontreasonhigh water

the time at which the tide or other water (eg a river) is at its highest point.

ˈhighway noun

a road, especially a large or main road.

Highway Code

in Britain, (a booklet containing) a set of official rules for road users.

ˈhighwayman – plural ˈhighwaymen – noun

in earlier times, a man usually on horseback, who attacked and robbed people travelling in coaches etc on public roads.

high wirewirehigh and dry

1. (of boats) on the shore; out of the water. The boat was left high and dry of the beach.

2. in difficulties. Her husband has left her high and dry without any money.

high and low

everywhere. I've searched high and low for that book.

high and mighty

behaving as if one thinks one is very important. Don't be so high and mighty – you're just like any one of us.

the high seas

the open seas; far from land.

it is etc high time

something ought to be done or have been done etc by now. It is high time that this job was finished; It's high time someone spanked that child.

see also tall.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

Commotions also arise in aristocracies, from there being so few persons in power (as we have already observed they do in oligarchies, for in this particular an aristocracy is most near an oligarchy, for in both these states the administration of public affairs is in the hands of a few; not that this arises from the same cause in both, though herein they chiefly seem alike): and these will necessarily be most likely to happen when the generality of the people are high-spirited and think themselves equal to each other in merit; such were those at Lacedasmon, called the Partheniae (for these were, as well as others, descendants of citizens), who being detected in a conspiracy against the state, were sent to found Tarentum.

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But it seemed these beer busts were a diversion of these high-spirited young fellows whereby they whiled away the tedium of existence by making fools of their betters.

View in context

This gave him a high station in his own esteem, and thus contributed indirectly to his better behaviour; for he was scrupulous as well as high-spirited, and prided himself on nothing more than on a just submission.

View in context

Now we know why there is an 'og' to Mauban's high-spirited festival

Mauban's 'high-spirited' festival

The Pakistan football team, which is preparing to play Cambodia in the second leg of the 2022 World Cup qualifier after losing the first leg 2-0, are high-spirited and it was evident when they took on the 'header bin' challenge.

Watch Pakistan football team take on 'header bin' challenge

'Defeat is impossible with such high-spirited mothers in existence,' COAS said.

COAS pays tribute to mothers of martyrs on Mother's Day

DUBAI: The all-new Multan Sultans will take on high-spirited Quetta Gladiators tonight at the Dubai International Stadium in what is expected to be a high-voltage game.Gladiators, who started their Pakistan Super League (PSL) journey with a marvellousvictory, later stumbled into a string of defeats.

Sultans, Gladiators PSL face-off tonight

In his message issued here Friday, the chief minister said that flying officer Maryam Mukhtar was a capable, talented and high-spirited personality and her patriotism, steadfastness and bravery were an example for the younger generation.

Maryam Mukhtar pride of Pakistan: CM

The CM said that flying officer Maryam Mukhtar was a capable, talented and high-spirited personality and her patriotism, steadfastness and bravery are an example for the younger generation.

Maryam Mukhtar remembered

Footage capturing a gang of high-spirited supporters circulated social media following the club's 1-0 away defeat to Wolves.