Synonyms

aspire

American

[uh-spahyuhr] / əˈspaɪər /

verb (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.

aspire British

/ əˈspaɪə /

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

"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

Synonym Usage

See ambitious

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Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

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.

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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.

If you aspire to live like a wealthy person, give yourself a midyear financial checkup this summer.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026

But Ravi insists she wants "to welcome more and more people, particularly foreign nationals, who aspire to the highest ideals and are determined to live a fully conscious life."

From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026

Stresses on middle-class Americans stood out for challenging the traditional view that joining the middle class, as many aspire to do, brings financial security.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

Labour and the Liberal Democrats aspire to reductions when economic conditions allow.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

I was sure that mine about Everest was not mine alone; the highest point on earth, unattainable, foreign to all experience, was there for many boys and grown men to aspire toward.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023