# soul

/ˈsoʊɫ/ (US) · /sˈəʊl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/soul
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. spiritual essence

noun · CEFR B1

the part of a person that is not physical and that many people believe continues to exist after death.

For teachers: the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, often regarded as immortal.

- Many religions teach that the soul leaves the body after a person dies.
- The philosopher argued that the soul represents the true seat of human consciousness, independent of biological decay.

### 2. emotional core

noun · CEFR B2

the deepest part of your mind or feelings where your true character is.

For teachers: the essence or animating spirit of a person, place, or work of art.

- You can tell he put his heart and soul into writing this book.
- The architect believed that the central courtyard was the soul of the building, providing a sense of peace to everyone inside.

### 3. a person

noun · CEFR B2

a person, especially when you are talking about how many people are in a place.

For teachers: an individual human being; frequently used in negative constructions or to emphasize a count of people.

- The streets were empty and there wasn't a soul in sight.
- The captain reported that every soul on board the sinking vessel had been safely transferred to the rescue boats.

### 4. music genre

noun · CEFR B1

a type of popular music that expresses deep feelings, originally created by African American musicians.

For teachers: a genre of popular music that originated in the African American community in the 1950s and 1960s, characterized by gospel and R&B influences.

- She loves listening to old soul records from the 1960s.
- The singer's powerful voice was perfectly suited for soul, conveying a raw emotional depth that resonated with the live audience.

### 5. cultural style

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

related to African American culture, especially food or music.

For teachers: pertaining to or characteristic of African American culture and its expressions of emotion and identity.

- We went to a great restaurant that serves traditional soul food.
- The festival celebrated soul culture through a vibrant display of music, dance, and culinary traditions from the American South.

## Examples

- She puts her whole soul into her paintings.
- The singer's voice was full of soul, making the audience feel every word of the sad song.
- Philosophers have long debated whether the soul is a distinct entity from the physical brain or merely a poetic way to describe the complexity of human consciousness.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.