aspire

American  

[uh-spahyuhr] / əˈspaɪər /

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.

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aspire British  

/ 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

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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”

Example Sentences

When aspiring artists approach her for advice, she adds, her first response is always to ask, "What steps have you taken?"

From BBC

At the centre of this resurgence are reality TV-style trot audition programmes, where tens of thousands of aspiring singers compete for stardom.

From BBC

But she aspired to become an actress or a writer.

From The Wall Street Journal

When he sat down to write the first "Scream" film which appeared in cinemas exactly 30 years ago, horror movies were out of fashion and aspiring Hollywood creative Kevin Williamson had low expectations.

From Barron's

The aspiring actors who auditioned Wednesday hoped to get their chance at a big break similar to the one Chokachi got decades ago.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crave
• pursue
• strive
• yearn