aspire

[uh-spahyuhr]

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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.

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

Related formsas·pir·er, nounas·pir·ing·ly, adverbnon·as·pir·ing, adjectiveun·as·pir·ing, adjectiveun·as·pir·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms for aspire

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1. yearn.

Synonym study

1. See ambitious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for aspire

pursue, crave, yearn, strive, desire, seek, long, hanker, try, struggle, want, wish, dream

Examples from the Web for aspire

Contemporary Examples of aspire

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
If we aspire to that personally and legislate for it publicly, the ugliness will dissipate.
In Gay Rights Fights, Bullies Love to Play the Victim
Tim Teeman
April 4, 2014
It is not a pretty city, in the conventional western understanding of a pretty city, and it does not want or aspire to be.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Literary Lagos
Henry Krempels
March 16, 2014
Now Aspire wants an alternative, and is bringing five black women together for a good gab.
Magic Johnson’s Network Set to Launch Talk Show
Allison Samuels
May 11, 2013
Saying “no” is a crucial prophylactic for cities that aspire to keep their politics clean.
Two Huge Choices for Toronto's Future
David Frum
April 20, 2013

Historical Examples of aspire

She could not aspire to be one of them, but she could be loyal, she could "stick up" for them.
Pee-wee Harris
Percy Keese Fitzhugh
Man cannot aspire if he look down; if he will rise, he must look up.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles
Why should you aspire to pluck the flower which has grown up amongst us?
Micah Clarke
Arthur Conan Doyle
We aspire to the top to look for Rest; it lies at the bottom.
Pax Vobiscum
Henry Drummond
Pride and ambition had led him to aspire to the crown which was settled on Shaddai's Son.
Bunyan
James Anthony Froude

British Dictionary definitions for aspire

aspire

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 Formsaspirer, 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

Word Origin and History for aspire

"to strive for," c.1400, from Old French aspirer "aspire to; inspire; breathe, breathe on" (12c.), from Latin aspirare "to breathe upon, to breathe," also, in transferred senses, "to be favorable to, assist; to climb up to, to endeavor to obtain, to reach to, to seek to reach; infuse," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + spirare "to breathe" (see spirit (n.)). The notion is of "panting with desire," or perhaps of rising smoke. Related: Aspired; aspiring.