aspire

[uh-spahyuhr]

verb (used without object)

aspired, aspiring 

1. 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

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

aspire

/ əˈspaɪə /

verb

1. 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

2. to rise to a great height

Other Word Forms

• aspirer noun
• aspiringly adverb
• nonaspiring adjective
• unaspiring adjective
• unaspiringly adverb
• aspiring adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspire¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspire¹

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

Synonym Study

See ambitious

Example Sentences

Seeing Tesla as an aspiring AI winner isn’t a surprise to investors.

Read more on Barron's

"The new SCR rules are intended to promote opportunity for all clubs to aspire to greater success and bring the league's financial system close to Uefa's existing SCR rules," a Premier League statement read.

Read more on BBC

Private-equity employees used to aspire to own their own jets, but now they just want to be able to afford their kids’ private-school tuition, he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I got other stuff that I want to do, to prepare for ‘First Take’ the next day, the next morning, and to do an abundance of other things that I aspire to do.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Created following the 2008 global financial crisis, bitcoin initially promoted a libertarian ideal and aspired to overthrow traditional monetary and financial institutions, such as central banks.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• crave 
• pursue 
• strive 
• yearn