aspiring
Americanadjective
Synonym Usage
See ambitious.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of aspiring
First recorded in 1575–1595; aspire ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
If you're aspiring, you're trying to be something. If you're an aspiring singer, you're probably out booking as many gigs as possible in the hopes that someone will soon discover you. The adjective aspiring describes a person who wants to succeed at a particular goal, often one related to a career. Many aspiring artists move to New York City in the hopes that they'll get into a major gallery and sell their art. Aspiring country musicians move to Nashville to try to land a recording deal. If you're an aspiring politician, you may study political science and intern at the state senator's offices to gain experience and make connections.
Vocabulary lists containing aspiring
Almost American Girl
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Astronauts
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Doctor Faustus
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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.
Now, those involved in the sport say opportunities are growing closer to home, giving aspiring wrestlers a chance to train, perform and begin building a career.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
He ran an operation involving sham modelling agencies that exploited the dreams of aspiring young models and their parents for more than eight years.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Even if it were, distillers aren’t directly copying that output, just using it to learn, like an aspiring writer reading books.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Flores worked in a recruitment division, which handles job applications from aspiring officers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Up and up it went, not weaving as it would have done with a snatching loose, but soaring, swimming, aspiring to heaven, steady, golden and superb.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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.
