Synonyms

inspire

American

[in-spahyuhr] / ɪnˈspaɪər /

verb (used with object)

to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence.

His courage inspired his followers.
to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.).

to inspire confidence in others.
to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc..

to inspire a person with distrust.
to influence or impel.

Competition inspired her to greater efforts.
to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does.

They were inspired by a belief in a better future.
to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence.

writings inspired by God.
to guide or control by divine influence.
to prompt or instigate (utterances, acts, etc.) by influence, without avowal of responsibility.
to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc..

a philosophy that inspired a revolution.
to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing; inhale.
Archaic.
1. to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually followed byinto ).
2. to breathe into or upon.

verb (used without object)

to give inspiration.
to inhale.

inspire British

/ ɪnˈspaɪə /

verb

to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon (a person); animate or invigorate
(tr; foll by with or to; may take an infinitive) to arouse (with a particular emotion or to a particular action); stir
(tr) to prompt or instigate; give rise to

her beauty inspired his love
(tr; often passive) to guide or arouse by divine influence or inspiration
to take or draw (air, gas, etc) into the lungs; inhale
archaic (tr)
1. to breathe into or upon
2. to breathe life into

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of inspire

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English inspiren, from Latin inspīrāre “to breathe upon, breathe into,” equivalent to in- in- ² ( def. ) + spīrāre “to breathe”

Explanation

The Olympics often inspire people to take up a sport, but they can also inspire patriotism. Inspire means to excite, encourage, or breathe life into. Inspire comes from the Latin word that means to inflame or to blow in to. When you inspire something, it is as if you are blowing air over a low flame to make it grow. A film can be inspired by a true story. Studying for your test will inspire confidence in you. Successful people often have a role model who inspired them to greatness. Who inspires you?

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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.

See Examples For:

inspire inspires inspired inspiring

There’s a world where A.I.-assisted short films could improve in quality and possibly inspire less-recognized creatives to realize their ambitions.

From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2026

“I think cats are like works of art that inspire you to be truer to yourself,” Meyer says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Indiana is in many ways a liminal state, the place you pass through between scruffy Cleveland and business-like Chicago, with little to inspire romantic odes to home.

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

He believes Auqib's journey will inspire a new generation.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

“Oh no! he had never written, hardly ever, any thing of the kind in his life. The stupidest fellow! He was afraid not even Miss Woodhouse”—he stopt a moment—“or Miss Smith could inspire him.”

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

"When you are inspired by kindness I think it inspires you to do something with kindness."

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Regardless of how he fares this week, Howard says his Open debut will be worthwhile if it inspires other people with cystic fibrosis to chase their dreams.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

But the road to the Elle Woods who graduates at the top of her law school class, storms Capitol Hill and inspires a Broadway musical has to start somewhere.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026

Indeed, it is this that inspires most of the questions present-day visitors put to the Capitol guides.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

The law leads to angry protests and inspires Harriet Beecher Stowe to write a serialized novel that will become Uncle Tom's Cabin.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

But Maresca, despite clearly being inspired by his former mentor, has his own style and one which we have started to see emerge across City's pre-season.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

The home, which was built in 1980, was always meant to serve as a relaxing sanctuary, having been inspired by Balinese architecture.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

The British version of “The Office” ran for only two seasons, from 2001 to 2003, but inspired the 2005 U.S. version in which Davis’ character Dawn Tinsley becomes Pam Beesly.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Mr. Sullivan’s choice to have the endearing actor Matthew Eby, who plays Leontes and Hermione’s doomed young son, Mamillius, also play the role of time is an inspired touch.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

“Our ninth game,” said Dr. Zinchenko, “is inspired by the Dewey decimal classification 510.”

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

They might be poseurs tossing around references to Ginsberg and Bukowski, but the welcome mat the group offers Ed is enticing and inspiring.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

But inspiring children to think about different options for their future comes with its challenges.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Known as the "Skype mafia" effect, founders and early employees took the experience they gained from the company and went on to start their own companies, inspiring others to do the same.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

The inspiring tale of a forgotten hero: In 1990, a single dad got fed up with the billboards for cigarettes targeting Chicago’s Black neighborhoods.

From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2026

“Thank you, Mayor. Now I’d like to take my winnings and donate them to the Downtown Revitalization Fund. And I’d like to thank my business partner, Jubilee Johnson, for all her help and inspiring ideas.”

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023