guru

noun

gu·​ru ˈgu̇r-(ˌ)ü How to pronounce guru (audio)
ˈgü-(ˌ)rü,
 also  gə-ˈrü
plural gurus
1
: a personal religious teacher and spiritual guide in Hinduism
2
a
: a teacher and especially intellectual guide in matters of fundamental concern
has been a guru to many young writers
b
: one who is an acknowledged leader or chief proponent
became the guru of the movement
c
: a person with knowledge or expertise : expert
a computer guru

Did you know?

In Hinduism, a guru is a personal spiritual teacher. In ancient India, knowledge of the Vedas (a body of liturgical literature) was transmitted orally from guru to pupil. The rise of the bhakti movement, which emphasizes the love of devotees for a personal god, further increased the importance of gurus, who were often looked on as living embodiments of spiritual truth and were identified with the deity. Gurus prescribe spiritual disciplines to their devotees, who follow their dictates in a tradition of service and obedience. Men or women may be gurus, though generally only men have established lineages.

Examples of guru in a Sentence

He has been a guru to many young writers. She's a self-proclaimed financial guru. Fitness gurus call it the hottest new exercise trend of the year.
Recent Examples on the Web While the plot is currently under wraps, the project is being teased as a deep dive into the world of coaching and follows the rise of a personal development guru who turns out to be toxic. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 Our weed guru breaks it down April 15, 2021 Products containing delta-8 exploded in popularity after the 2018 passage of an agricultural bill that eased federal restrictions on hemp and created a legal loophole for the compound. Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The book has sold more than five million copies since its publication, and Cameron has become a kind of guru. Jillian Steinhauer, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Throughout her career, Apfel wore many different hats, from textile guru to interior designer, visiting professor, style icon, brand ambassador and more. Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 For beauty, wellness, and retail business owners, Kendra Bracken-Ferguson is the go-to guru. Ebony Flake, Essence, 26 Feb. 2024 So perhaps psychologists can offer as much insight into athletic achievement as statistics gurus do. Tom Siegfried, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 Woods and Avey Tare, indie needle-movers since the mid-two-thousands, co-headline Knockdown Center, joined by the New Age guru Laraaji (April 13). The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024 Sefton Monk is a British tech guru and CEO of the world's first fully bookable cruise app, My Kind of Cruise, with over 125,000 downloads and an average customer age of 38. Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'guru.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Sanskrit guru, from guru, adjective, heavy, venerable — more at grieve

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of guru was in 1613

Dictionary Entries Near guru

Cite this Entry

“Guru.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guru. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

guru

noun
gu·​ru gə-ˈrü How to pronounce guru (audio)
ˈgu̇(ə)r-ü
1
: a personal religious teacher and spiritual guide in Hinduism
2
a
: a person that is generally recognized as a leader or teacher
b
: a person with knowledge and expertise : expert
Etymology

from gurū, a word in Hindi (the major language in India) meaning "Hindu teacher or spiritual guide," derived from Sanskrit guru (adjective) "worthy of respect"

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