spring-like

spring-like — adjective

1. Describes weather, air, or an atmosphere that feels mild, fresh, and full of new

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Describes weather, air, or an atmosphere that feels mild, fresh, and full of new life, like the spring season rather than another time of year.

Example

The spring-like weather in early March brought daffodils and blossom out ahead of schedule.

attributive use: spring-like + weather

After weeks of rain, the air felt fresh and spring-like, carrying the scent of wet grass.

predicative use: felt + spring-like

Common collocations
  • spring-like weather
  • spring-like temperatures
  • spring-like breeze
  • spring-like warmth
  • spring-like atmosphere
  • spring-like freshness
Synonyms
  • vernal

    more literary and technical; only about the season itself, not about mildness

  • mild

    broader; can describe any pleasantly warm weather, not specifically spring-like

  • fresh

    focuses on clean, crisp air rather than the full spring atmosphere

Antonyms
  • wintry

    describes cold, harsh weather typical of winter

  • autumnal

    describes the cooler, fading atmosphere of autumn

Grammar Patterns

spring-like + noun

be + spring-like

Usage Note

Used mostly to describe weather or atmosphere that is unusually mild compared with the actual season. Cannot be used to describe a person's appearance or age.

Common Mistakes

The temperature is spring-like today, so I put on my heavy coat.
The temperature is spring-like today, so I left my heavy coat at home.
spring-like means mild and warm, not cold.
She looks very spring-like in that dress.
The weather feels spring-like today.
spring-like describes atmosphere or weather, not a person's clothing or appearance.

2. Describes a surface, material, or movement that stretches, compresses, and retur

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Describes a surface, material, or movement that stretches, compresses, and returns to its original shape with a lively bounce, like a mechanical coil spring.

Example

The new mattress had a spring-like bounce that made sleeping very comfortable.

attributive use: spring-like + bounce

Aisha walked down the street with a spring-like step, her energy lifting everyone around her.

collocation: spring-like step

Common collocations
  • spring-like bounce
  • spring-like step
  • spring-like quality
  • spring-like comfort
  • spring-like feel
Synonyms
  • bouncy

    more common and informal; emphasises the lively rebound

  • elastic

    more technical; focuses on the ability to stretch and return to shape

  • resilient

    formal; emphasises the ability to recover shape after pressure

Antonyms
  • flat

    describes something that has lost its bounce

  • saggy

    describes something that droops and does not return to shape

Grammar Patterns

spring-like + noun

be + spring-like

Usage Note

Commonly describes mattresses, cushions, shoes, sports surfaces, or someone's energetic walk. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about physical elasticity, not the season.

Common Mistakes

This bread is spring-like and fresh.
This bread is soft and fresh.
spring-like for elasticity does not apply to food texture.
Her hair is spring-like.
Her curls have a spring-like bounce.' / ✅ 'Her step is spring-like.
the word usually describes a material or movement, not hair directly.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words describe the ability to return to shape after pressure, but they differ in register and typical use. 'Bouncy' is the most common and informal — you describe a ball, mattress, or child's step as bouncy. 'Elastic' is more technical and often refers to fabric or materials that stretch (elastic waistband, elastic band). 'Resilient' is formal and emphasises toughness — a resilient material recovers not just its shape but its strength over time. 'Spring-like' is the least common of the group and often implies a pleasant, lively bounce rather than mere stretchiness. For example: 'The children loved the bouncy castle' (informal, fun); 'The elastic in these socks lasts for years' (technical); 'The foam is resilient enough for gym flooring' (formal, durable); 'The mattress felt spring-like and supportive' (lively bounce, pleasant).

bouncy ↗elastic ↗resilient ↗springy ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed in English by combining the noun 'spring' with the suffix '-like' (meaning 'resembling or characteristic of'). The first sense draws on 'spring' as the season (from Old English 'springan', 'to burst forth' — referring to plants emerging). The second sense draws on 'spring' as a mechanical coil (from the same root, because a coiled spring 'leaps' back into shape). The compound pattern 'noun + -like' has been productive in English since the 1500s.