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
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.
"People do not aspire to be beneficiaries," says Tillin.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
Lawyers who aspire to become judge often run for open seats.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
Probably true, but the saint-like forbearance of most of the characters around John is a quality to which most of us can only aspire.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 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
The last example shows that verbs can be drained of life when they are turned into adjectives, too, as when contribute becomes contributive to or aspire becomes on the aspirational level.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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.
