What does "guru" mean?
In Indian traditions: a spiritual teacher who transmits knowledge to a shishya.
Guru
/ˈɡʊɹ(ˌ)u/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: In Indian traditions: a spiritual teacher who transmits knowledge to a shishya.
- Grammar: guru is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: abecedarian, angel, authority, authority.
- Useful contrasts: amateur, layperson, novice.
- Usage evidence: I have an appointment to visit a guru in India.
How to use "guru"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "guru" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "guru" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "guru" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "guru" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "guru" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abecedarian" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "guru", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 In Indian traditions: a spiritual teacher who transmits knowledge to a shishya.
"When the gooroo arrives at the house of a disciple, the whole family prostrate themselves at his feet, and the spiritual guide puts his right foot on the heads of the prostrate family."
- 2 a Hindu or Buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher wordnet
- 3 Any general teacher (as a term of respect). India
- 4 a recognized leader in some field or of some movement wordnet
- 5 An influential advisor or mentor. humorous, sometimes
"Many oenophiles rely on the ratings and recommendations of wine guru Robert Parker when selecting the perfect bottle."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 each of the first ten leaders of the Sikh religion wordnet
- 7 A fraudster or conman relying on a projected air of confidence in an obscure field. derogatory
"OPCA gurus are modern legal alchemists. They promise gold, but their methods are principally intended to impress the gullible, or those who wish to use this drivel to abuse the court system. Any lack of legal success by the OPCA litigant is, of course, portrayed as a consequence of the customer’s failure to properly understand and apply the guru's special knowledge."
Verb
- 1 To act as a guru; to give wise advice
Example
"I have an appointment to visit a guru in India."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "guru"?
Common synonyms include: abecedarian, angel, authority, authority, bairagi, bashara.
How do you use "guru" in a sentence?
I have an appointment to visit a guru in India.
How do you pronounce "guru"?
Pronounced /ˈɡʊɹ(ˌ)u/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Hindi गुरु (guru) / Punjabi ਗੁਰੂ (gurū), from Sanskrit गुरु (guru, “venerable, respectable”), originally "heavy" and in this sense cognate to English grieve and, more distantly, brute. Doublet of grave. A traditional, though flawed etymology based on the Advayataraka Upanishad (line 16) describes the syllables gu as “darkness” and ru as “destroyer”, thus ascribing the meaning of “one who destroys/dispels darkness” to the word.