aspire

[ uh-spahyuhr ]

/ əˈspaɪər /

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See synonyms for: aspire / aspired / aspiring / aspirer on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), as·pired, as·pir·ing.

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.

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

OTHER WORDS FOR aspire

1 yearn.

See synonyms for aspire on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of aspire

1425–75; late Middle English (<Middle French aspirer) <Latin aspīrāre to breathe upon, pant after, equivalent to a-a-⁵ + spīrāre to breathe, blow

synonym study for aspire

1. See ambitious

OTHER WORDS FROM aspire

as·pir·er, nounas·pir·ing·ly, adverbnon·as·pir·ing, adjectiveun·as·pir·ing, adjective

un·as·pir·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby aspire

aspirate, aspiration, aspirational, aspirator, aspiratory, aspire, aspirin, aspiring, asplanchnic, asplenium, sporting chance, a

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use aspire in a sentence

Until now, he didn’t have the awareness or the nerve to aspire to such potency.
The NFL’s top QBs are waking up to their power, following Tom Brady and LeBron James|Jerry Brewer|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
A judge later ruled that Grindr could not be held responsible, citing Section 230 — a mistake, in Warner’s view, that his bill aspires to fix.
Sen. Warner to unveil bill reining in Section 230, seeking to help users fight back against real-world harm|Tony Romm|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
The fact that services like these — the new generation of robocalls, as it were — can sound “lifelike”, like actual humans, has been something that consumer versions have aspired to, although that hasn’t always worked out for the best.
Infinitus emerges from stealth with $21.4M for ‘voice RPA’ aimed at healthcare companies|Ingrid Lunden|February 4, 2021|TechCrunch
By the end of 2025, GM aspires to have 40 percent of its US fleet composed of battery-electric cars, and have zero pollutants coming out of new light duty cars’ tailpipes by 2035.
GM wants its cars to be fully electric by 2035. Here’s what that could mean for auto emissions.|Ula Chrobak|February 4, 2021|Popular-Science

Because of that burden, they usually don’t aspire to that level of detail unless their research question absolutely requires it.
The Hard Lessons of Modeling the Coronavirus Pandemic|Jordana Cepelewicz|January 28, 2021|Quanta Magazine
As Americans, we should absolutely aspire to more than that.
The Resurrection of Kristen Stewart|Marlow Stern|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cheerleaders fall in love with freaks, jocks aspire to be indie musicians, and relationships are in a constant state of flux.
In Praise of ‘Awkward’: OMFG MTV, Like, Really Gets High School|Amy Zimmerman|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Most bands these days aspire to reproduce their recordings on stage as faithfully as possible.
Is Jack White the Last True Rock Star?|Andrew Romano|June 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My deepest desire is that my work will help people aspire to the life those kinds of images evoke.
The Drunken Downfall of Evangelical America's Favorite Painter|Zac Bissonnette|June 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our research indicates they can end up having a similar effect to an 'in-group' in high school that others aspire to join.
Should The Devil Sell Prada? Study Finds Snobby Salespeople Boost Sales|The Fashion Beast Team|April 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I must aspire to the agitating transports of self-devotion, in scenes of sacrifice and peril!
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
To imitate finite excellence, is to aspire at excellence, even though but in part.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
And why should good men claim for it the character of an ordinance of God, to which even of itself it does not aspire?
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
He made the profession of a teacher the most honorable calling to which a citizen could aspire.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I|John Lord
At a time when money might aspire to everything, the millionaire's dreams had nothing very exorbitant.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 67, Number 414, April, 1850|Various

British Dictionary definitions for aspire

aspire

/ (əˈspaɪə) /

verb (intr)

(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

to rise to a great height

Derived forms of aspire

aspirer, nounaspiring, adjective

Word Origin for aspire

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

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

aspire

OTHER WORDS FOR aspire

Origin of aspire

synonym study for aspire

OTHER WORDS FROM aspire

Words nearby aspire

Words related to aspire

How to use aspire in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for aspire

Derived forms of aspire

Word Origin for aspire