highly spirited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly spirited" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is full of energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness. Example: "The highly spirited children filled the room with laughter and joy during the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Today's practice involved a highly spirited three-on-three intrasquad scrimmage with a twist.

The New York Times - Sports

For many years before that, he was known as a leading election lawyer in the state and a highly spirited Republican partisan.

The New York Times

In him they prompt revulsion at the mirror, wrath at the gods, compensatory teeth cleaning, diversionary weight lifting and, finally, a highly spirited and occasionally hilarious literary investigation into all of the above.

The New York Times - Books

The interview was followed by a round of highly spirited and probing questions from the audience; when the microphone was pulled away from one bursting-at-the-seams questioner, the audience erupted into cries of "Boo!" and "Censorship!" ("We've had a few mutinies in the past," Victor Navasky, the former publisher of The Nation, who has been on all 10 Nation cruises, told me.

The New York Times - Travel

The idea and the act itself (a dip in Lake Michigan once a month) are bravely disciplined, highly spirited, and philosophically daring exactly like the life of the mind at the University.

University of Chicago

Coca-Cola (KO), the world's largest soft-drinks company and the biggest global producer of juice and juice-related products, trading at $36 a share, with a highly spirited dividend yield of 2.75%.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Nigeria started slowly against a highly-spirited Argentina, with Messi dictating the pace of the game - feeding Higuain for the South Americans' opening goal with an exquisite pass.

BBC

The hiring manager picks up on these negative vibes and decides to pass on the candidate in favor of a more highly-spirited person.

Forbes

Though the title might lead you to expect something bucolic, this is a bustling, spirited work, with a wandering violin line floating atop a busy, highly ornamented piano part.

The New York Times - Arts

"Now I'm learning to speak the language of film". The evening's subject was highly technical -- the use of dimmers in the lighting of movies -- but the session was spirited.

The New York Times

"It was spirited.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly spirited" to describe entities or individuals possessing significant enthusiasm and energy. It adds a layer of intensity to the description.

Common error

Avoid using "highly spirited" in excessively formal or technical writing. While grammatically correct, it may sound out of place in contexts requiring a more reserved tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly spirited" primarily functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun to describe a quality of intense enthusiasm, energy, or liveliness. As shown by Ludwig, it enhances the noun with an additional emphasis on the subject's nature.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "highly spirited" is an adjective phrase used to describe someone or something full of energy, enthusiasm, and liveliness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. This analysis shows it's a common phrase, particularly in News & Media. When writing, it's best practice to use "highly spirited" to enhance descriptions with notable enthusiasm and energy. While versatile, avoid it in formal or technical contexts where a more reserved tone is needed. Consider alternatives like "very enthusiastic", "extremely lively", or "remarkably energetic" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very enthusiastic

Emphasizes the enthusiasm aspect, changing the intensity.

extremely lively

Focuses on the liveliness of the subject, amplifying the degree.

remarkably energetic

Highlights the energetic nature, suggesting a notable level of energy.

incredibly animated

Draws attention to the animated quality, emphasizing expressiveness and vivacity.

full of zest

Replaces "spirited" with "zest", indicating enthusiasm and enjoyment.

deeply passionate

Shifts the focus to passion, implying a strong emotional investment.

intensely vibrant

Emphasizes the vibrant nature, highlighting its richness and intensity.

exceptionally fervent

Replaces "spirited" with "fervent", indicating an ardor or zeal.

unusually exuberant

Focuses on exuberance, implying a joyful and enthusiastic expression.

quite vivacious

Highlights vivacity, emphasizing a lively and animated quality.

FAQs

How can I use "highly spirited" in a sentence?

You can use "highly spirited" to describe someone or something full of energy and enthusiasm. For example, "The "highly spirited" debate captivated the audience".

What are some alternatives to "highly spirited"?

Alternatives to "highly spirited" include "very enthusiastic", "extremely lively", or "remarkably energetic" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "highly spirited" formal or informal?

"Highly spirited" is generally considered neutral in tone. While acceptable in many contexts, consider the formality of your writing and choose alternatives if a more formal tone is required.

What does it mean to be "highly spirited"?

To be "highly spirited" means to possess a strong sense of enthusiasm, energy, and liveliness. It suggests a vibrant and animated character or quality.