spry C1 Topic:Describing Qualities US /spraɪ/ UK /spraɪ/ See IPA manual Freq #42205 Meanings 1 adj active, nimble, and energetic, especially despite advanced age The young orphans were spry enough to earn their own living. 2 adj cheerful, vigorous, or full of spirit After a night's rest, the patient looked surprisingly spry. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · active, nimble, and... nimbleagilelively 2 adj · cheerful, vigorous, or full... briskspiritedvigorous ↔ Opposites frailsluggishlistless Word family Derived forms sprylyspryness Related forms sprightlysprack Etymology From British dialectal sprey, related to Old Norse sprækr, 'lively or vigorous,' and cognate with modern Scandinavian words for being fit or energetic. Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # spry **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /spraɪ/ **IPA (UK):** /spraɪ/ **Frequency rank:** 42205 ## Meanings 1. active, nimble, and energetic, especially despite advanced age 2. cheerful, vigorous, or full of spirit ## Examples - The young orphans were spry enough to earn their own living. - After a night's rest, the patient looked surprisingly spry. ## Synonyms - nimble - agile - lively - brisk ## Antonyms - frail - sluggish - listless ## Derived Forms - spryly - spryness ## Related Forms - sprightly - sprack ## Etymology From British dialectal sprey, related to Old Norse sprækr, 'lively or vigorous,' and cognate with modern Scandinavian words for being fit or energetic. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown