Soar Meaning
/sɔː/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo fly high with little effort, like a bird.
verbTo mount upward on wings, or as on wings, especially by gliding while employing rising air currents.
Sentence Examples
The birds soar in the air.
My flag will soar in the sky.
William watched the plane soar in the sky.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hawk spread its large wings and began to ____ high above the forest.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We watched the eagle ____ high above the valley, its large wings spread wide against the blue sky.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English soren, from Old French essorer (“to fly up, soar”), from Vulgar Latin *exaurare (“to rise into the air”), from Latin ex (“out”) + aura (“the air, a breeze”), from Ancient Greek αὔρα (aúra, “breath”). Compare aura, and exhale.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"When soars Gaul's Vulture, with his wings unfurl'd,"
— 1812, Lord Byron, “Canto I”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. A Romaunt, London: […] [F]or John Murray, […]; William Blackwood, Edinburgh; and John Cumming, Dublin; by Thomas Davison, […], →OCLC, stanza LII, page 34:
"A planning document produced in October 1984 said that Class 46 maintenance costs were soaring and rapid withdrawal would occur, and this came to pass by the end of the year."
— 2021 June 30, David Clough, “Brush: a UK rail icon”, in RAIL, number 934, page 57:
"Such where the deep tranſported mind may ſoare / Above the wheeling poles,"
— 1626 (date written), John Milton, “At a Vacation Exercise in the Colledge, […]”, in Poems, &c. upon Several Occasions, London: […] Tho[mas] Dring […], published 1673, →OCLC, page 65:
"Valour soars above What the world calls misfortune."
— 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 25:
"KORRIS: I have tasted your heart. You have been with them, but you are still "of" us. Do not deny the challenge of your destiny. Get off your knees and soar. Open your eyes and let the dream take flight."
— 1988 March 21, Vaughn Armstrong, Heart of Glory (Star Trek: The Next Generation) (Science Fiction), Paramount Domestic Television, →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hawk spread its large wings and began to ____ high above the forest.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We watched the eagle ____ high above the valley, its large wings spread wide against the blue sky.