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Synonyms

inspiration

American  
[in-spuh-rey-shuhn] / ˌɪn spəˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. an inspiring or animating action or influence.

    I cannot write poetry without inspiration.
    Synonyms:
    incitement, stimulus

  2. something inspired, as an idea.

  3. a result of inspired activity.

  4. a thing or person that inspires.

  5. Theology.

    1. a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.

    2. the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.

  6. the drawing of air into the lungs; inhalation.

  7. the act of inspiring; quality or state of being inspired.

inspiration British  
/ ˌɪnspɪˈreɪʃən /

noun

  1. stimulation or arousal of the mind, feelings, etc, to special or unusual activity or creativity

  2. the state or quality of being so stimulated or aroused

  3. someone or something that causes this state

  4. an idea or action resulting from such a state

  5. the act or process of inhaling; breathing in

"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
inspiration Scientific  
/ ĭn′spə-rā′shən /

  1. See inhalation

Other Word Forms

  • reinspiration noun

Etymology

Origin of inspiration

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English inspiracio(u)n, from Late Latin inspīrātiōn-, stem of inspīrātiō literally “a breathing in,” from inspīrāt(us) “breathed in” (past participle of inspīrāre; inspire ) + -iō -ion

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.

But they can also look to the not-too-distant past for inspiration.

From Salon

Large-print floral fabrics are scattered across the floor, waiting for inspiration.

From The Wall Street Journal

By 2018, Core’s reputation was such that a team of consultants hired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to help develop two luxury islands in the Red Sea visited for inspiration, the files show.

From The Wall Street Journal

He cited China as an inspiration -- admiring how India's rival had "been able to systematically bring people out of poverty" at speed.

From Barron's

The meadow and river were the inspiration for The Wind In The Willows.

From BBC

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.