US /spraɪ/ UK /spraɪ/
adj Freq #42205

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    active, nimble, and energetic, especially despite advanced age

    The young orphans were spry enough to earn their own living.

  2. 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
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

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