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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR aspire ON THESAURUS.COM

1. yearn.

Synonym study

1. See ambitious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for aspired

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

Examples from the Web for aspired

Contemporary Examples of aspired

Craig-Lewis was an 11-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department, a position she had aspired to since grade school.
The Mystery Death Of A Female Firefighter
Christopher Moraff
December 13, 2014
He had aspired to construct an epic figure after visiting the pyramids and sphinxes of Egypt in 1855.
128 Years Old and Still a Looker: Happy Birthday to Lady Liberty
Elizabeth Mitchell
October 28, 2014
Raised from nothing, Harding aspired to greatness: she wanted to be the best female figure skater in the world.
ESPN’s ‘The Price of Gold’ Revisits the Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan Scandal
Amy Zimmerman
January 15, 2014
She was active in the school newspaper and aspired to be a lawyer.
West Virginia Heathers: Was Skylar Neese Murdered by Her Best Friends?
Caroline Linton
December 19, 2013
The accused ‘Soccer-Mom Madam’ has said all along she aspired to run a dating service.
Anna Gristina, the Accused Mommy Madam, and Her Matchmaking Defense
Tracy Quan
June 25, 2012

Historical Examples of aspired

For a moment at least he looked like the King which he aspired to be.
Micah Clarke
Arthur Conan Doyle
If he had been fit for the high destiny he aspired to—if he had been fit to be a judge, he would not have fallen.
The Manxman
Hall Caine
It savoured of servitude to his mind, and who was this same Pippo who aspired to be his master?
Gerald Fitzgerald
Charles James Lever
I have aspired to his method, but realize it is impossible for me.
Tales of Fishes
Zane Grey
I did not tell you that I aspired to the honour of marrying her.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt

British Dictionary definitions for aspired

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 aspired

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.