Collocations for spirit - noun
1. mind or feelings
ADJ.
human
PREP.
in ~
I will be with you in spirit.
I will be with you in spirit.
2. spirits: morale
ADJ.
flagging
VERB + SPIRIT
keep up, lift, raise
We sang songs to keep our spirits up.
We sang songs to keep our spirits up.
revive | break, dampen
A string of defeats has failed to dampen the team''s spirits.
A string of defeats has failed to dampen the team''s spirits.
SPIRIT + VERB
lift, rise
PHRASES
in good/high/low/poor, etc. spirits
She isn''t in the best of spirits today.
She isn''t in the best of spirits today.
3. person
ADJ.
guiding, leading, moving
She was a guiding spirit in primary education.
She was a guiding spirit in primary education.
generous | grudging, mean | brave, proud | free, independent | kindred
He found kindred spirits in the peace movement.
He found kindred spirits in the peace movement.
4. courage/liveliness
ADJ.
great, tremendous | adventurous, competitive, fighting, indomitable, pioneer/pioneering
VERB + SPIRIT
be full of, have
She has plenty of fighting spirit.
She has plenty of fighting spirit.
display, show | break
PREP.
with ~
He sang with great spirit.
He sang with great spirit.
PHRASES
broken in spirit
They tortured him until he was broken in spirit.
They tortured him until he was broken in spirit.
5. feelings of loyalty
ADJ.
community, party, public, team
VERB + SPIRIT
have | develop, foster, promote
6. attitude/mood
ADJ.
right
He''s got the right spirit!
He''s got the right spirit!
essential, genuine, true | carefree | democratic, revolutionary | entrepreneurial | festive, Christmas
VERB + SPIRIT
have | enter into
PREP.
in a ~ of
Both sides have come together in a spirit of goodwill.
Both sides have come together in a spirit of goodwill.
~ of
a spirit of adventure
a spirit of adventure
PHRASES
in the right/wrong spirit, the spirit of the age/times
7. real/intended meaning of a rule, an agreement, etc.
VERB + SPIRIT
obey | be/go against, be contrary to
PHRASES
the spirit of the law
The referee should try to obey the spirit as well as the letter of the law.
The referee should try to obey the spirit as well as the letter of the law.
8. soul/ghost
ADJ.
ancestral | evil, malevolent | restless
Owls were believed to be restless spirits who had returned to earth.
Owls were believed to be restless spirits who had returned to earth.
VERB + SPIRIT
conjure up, contact, invoke, summon (up) | exorcise, ward off
She slept with a cross under the pillow to ward off evil spirits.
She slept with a cross under the pillow to ward off evil spirits.
be possessed by
SPIRIT + VERB
live on
Many people believe the spirit lives on after death.
Many people believe the spirit lives on after death.
PHRASES
the spirits of the dead
9. (usually ‘spirits’) strong alcoholic drink
QUANT.
measure
a single measure of spirits
a single measure of spirits
VERB + SPIRIT
drink
PHRASES
a bottle of spirits