aspire

[ uh-spahyuhr ]
See synonyms for: aspireaspiredaspiringaspirer on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),as·pired, as·pir·ing.
  1. to long, aim, or seek ambitiously; be eagerly desirous, especially for something great or of high value (usually followed by to, after, or an infinitive): to aspire after literary immortality; to aspire to be a doctor.

  2. Archaic. to rise up; soar; mount; tower.

Origin of aspire

1
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French aspirer, from Latin aspīrāre “to breathe upon, pant after,” from a- a-5 + spīrāre “to breathe, blow”

synonym study For aspire

1. See ambitious

Other words for aspire

Other words from aspire

  • as·pir·er, noun
  • as·pir·ing·ly, adverb
  • non·as·pir·ing, adjective
  • un·as·pir·ing, adjective
  • un·as·pir·ing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby aspire

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use aspire in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for aspire

aspire

/ (əˈspaɪə) /


verb(intr)
  1. (usually foll by to or after) to yearn (for) or have a powerful or ambitious plan, desire, or hope (to do or be something): to aspire to be a great leader

  2. to rise to a great height

Origin of aspire

1
C15: from Latin aspīrāre to breathe upon, from spīrāre to breathe

Derived forms of aspire

  • aspirer, noun
  • aspiring, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012