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
Synonym Usage
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.
According to bankruptcy filings, Leonard’s private company, KL2 Aspire, is listed as one of the company’s biggest creditors — being owed $7 million.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2025
Specialized carriers, including Aspire, Bristol West and National General, which offer policies to high-risk drivers, typically don’t cover electric vehicles.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2025
Aspire cites a handful of cases where women, and the healthcare provider helping them, have been charged in the last decade.
From BBC • Aug. 22, 2024
Patricia is working alongside regional women’s health charity Aspire to change the law in two Caribbean nations.
From BBC • Aug. 22, 2024
Aspire to a level of coolness known only as .
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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.
