aspire
Americanverb (used without object)
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- yearn
-
Archaic. to rise up; soar; mount; tower.
verb
-
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
Related Words
See ambitious
Other Word Forms
- aspirer noun
- aspiring adjective
- aspiringly adverb
- nonaspiring adjective
- unaspiring adjective
- unaspiringly adverb
Etymology
Origin of aspire
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”
Explanation
Does your life goal include world domination? Have an ambitious plan that involves gold medals and international fame? Then you definitely know what it means to aspire toward something big. The verb aspire commonly means to aim or shoot for. But it comes from the Latin word aspirare, which means “to breathe upon.” So here's a trick for remembering this word: Think of yourself reaching up towards a spire, that really tall, tapered structure at the top of a church. Or, if you’re in a poetic mood, imagine your wish as a feather that moves forward when you blow on it.
Vocabulary lists containing aspire
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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Grade 9, List 3
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Starting Your New Life: Inspiring Words from Commencement Speeches
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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.
Shouldn’t we aspire to build a structure worth seeing?
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
Horsfield’s version shows the kind of sumptuous cage many aspire to live in, revealing why some people prefer to remain lavishly trapped, and others rattle the bars, hoping for escape.
From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026
Zhang's rise embodied what millions of his followers aspire towards: someone from a small town who climbs the social ladder by forging their own path.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
The ability to retire when you want is a luxury Americans aspire to — but might not be able to afford.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026
People are supposed to aspire to become their fathers, not shudder at the thought.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
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.
