zeitgeist

[tsahyt-, zahyt-gahyst] / ˈtsaɪt-, ˈzaɪtˌgaɪst /

NOUN

spirit of the time

Synonyms

STRONG

climate outlook spirit trend

WEAK

ambience atmosphere disposition feeling flavor inclination leaning milieu movement tendency tenor tone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A stage adaptation can’t duplicate the way Lumet visually distilled the rough-and-tumble New York zeitgeist of the tumultuous early 1970s.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

That’s a generous reading of the bilateral zeitgeist at a tempestuous moment.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

How the latest installment of the show lands with fans is a test of whether a one-time hit can again capture the zeitgeist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

With the billionaire class getting hammered in the zeitgeist, I had wondered how our trip might go.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

That the young are the only bridge to the promised land of the zeitgeist of capitalism.

From After the Rain : how the West lost the East by Vaknin, Samuel