soul
sohl
Soul (noun) means the spiritual or immaterial part of a person, often believed to continue after death. Example: “Many people believe the soul leaves the body at the moment of death.”
noun
1
The spiritual or immaterial part of a person, often believed to continue after death.
"Many people believe the soul leaves the body at the moment of death."
"He prayed for the soul of his late grandfather."
"She believed the soul lives on after the body dies."
2
The essential or defining quality of something; its life and character.
"Street food gives the town much of its soul and its character."
"Careful restoration kept the soul of the old theatre intact."
"The old market is the soul of the city."
3
A genre of African American popular music known for its emotional, gospel-influenced style.
"She sings soul with a warm, powerful voice that fills the room."
"The radio station plays soul and gospel on Sunday mornings."
"He grew up listening to classic soul records from the sixties."
4
A person, especially thought of as one among many.
"Every living soul in the village came out to watch the parade."
"The poor old soul had been waiting in the rain for an hour."
"Not a soul was on the street that night."
How to use soul
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe spiritual essence of a person, or the deep, defining heart of something — also a music genre.
Common pairings
body and soul
soul music
not a soul
the soul of the city
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Word forms
- Plural
- souls
- Third person singular
- souls
- Past tense
- souled
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Many people believe the _____ leaves the body at the moment of death.
Etymology
From Old English sawol ("soul, life, spirit"), a Germanic word of uncertain ultimate origin.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for soul
See all rhymes for soul →Frequently asked questions
What does “soul” mean?
The word “soul” means the spiritual or immaterial part of a person, often believed to continue after death. In plain terms, the spiritual essence of a person, or the deep, defining heart of something — also a music genre.
How do you pronounce “soul”?
“Soul” is pronounced sohl (/soʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “soul” in a sentence?
Here is “soul” used in a sentence: “She believed the soul lives on after the body dies.”
What is another word for “soul”?
Words with a similar meaning to “soul” include gist.
What part of speech is “soul”?
“Soul” is a noun.
Where does the word “soul” come from?
The word “soul” comes from Old English. From Old English sawol ("soul, life, spirit"), a Germanic word of uncertain ultimate origin.
Is “soul” a common word?
“Soul” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “soul” have?
“Soul” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the spiritual or immaterial part of a person, often believed to continue after death.
What is the difference between soul and spirit?
Both refer to the immaterial part of a person, but soul often denotes the seat of individual identity, emotion, and personality, while spirit tends to mean the life-force or the aspect that connects to the divine. Many traditions use the two interchangeably; others treat spirit as the higher part and soul as the more personal one.
Is the soul a religious idea?
The soul appears across most religions and many philosophies, though beliefs about its nature differ widely. Some hold that it is immortal, others that it is reborn, and secular thinkers may treat it as a metaphor for consciousness or character rather than a literal, surviving entity. It is a deeply contested concept.
What does soul mean in music?
In music, soul names a genre blending gospel and rhythm and blues that rose in the 1950s and 60s. More loosely, saying a performance or singer "has soul" means it feels heartfelt, emotional, and authentic rather than technical or hollow. Here the word points to depth of feeling.
Can the soul be measured or seen?
No scientific instrument detects a soul; it is a spiritual and philosophical concept rather than a physical object. Belief in it rests on faith, tradition, or personal conviction instead of measurement, which is why its existence remains a matter of religion and philosophy rather than of settled science.
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