inspired
Americanadjective
-
aroused, animated, or imbued with the spirit to do something, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence.
an inspired poet.
-
resulting from such inspiration.
an inspired poem;
an inspired plan.
-
inhaled.
inspired air.
adjective
-
aroused or guided by or as if aroused or guided by divine inspiration
an inspired performance
she was like one inspired
-
extremely accurate or apt but based on intuition rather than knowledge or logical deduction
an inspired guess
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inspired
Explanation
Inspired is an adjective that describes something of excellent quality. If your singing in a choral concert is particularly inspired, people can hear your voice hitting all the right notes beautifully. If something is so extraordinary that it's worthy of being described as inspired, you might think that the gods had something to do with its creation. In fact, inspired originally meant "directly inspired by God or gods." It comes from the Latin in-"in" and spirare "to breathe." Maybe such supernatural power did breathe life into something truly excellent. Or maybe the humans just worked very hard and had a great idea.
Vocabulary lists containing inspired
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This Week in Pop Culture: July 6–July 12, 2019
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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.
She told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that the administration’s stated goal of promoting “human flourishing” was inspired by a Judeo-Christian ethic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
Many concert-goers also wore bindis, inspired by Lara, who has proudly incorporated her Asian heritage into her aesthetic.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Its unusual, almost supernatural appearance inspired its name: Thismia daemona, the "devil flower."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026
She was also inspired an off-Broadway play, “Gloria: A Life,” which was adapted into a 2020 production for PBS’ “Great Performances” that starred Christine Lahti.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026
“I might be the only Pakistani woman you’ve ever heard of before, but there are so many other women from my country who are just as important to know about too...like someone who inspired me.”
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
