aspire
- 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
Synonyms for aspire
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Related Words for aspired
pursue, crave, yearn, strive, desire, seek, long, hanker, try, struggle, want, wish, dreamExamples 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.
He had aspired to construct an epic figure after visiting the pyramids and sphinxes of Egypt in 1855.
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 ScandalAmy 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.
Historical Examples of aspired
For a moment at least he looked like the King which he aspired to be.
Micah ClarkeArthur 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 ManxmanHall Caine
It savoured of servitude to his mind, and who was this same Pippo who aspired to be his master?
Gerald FitzgeraldCharles James Lever
I have aspired to his method, but realize it is impossible for me.
Tales of FishesZane Grey
I did not tell you that I aspired to the honour of marrying her.
The Memoires of Casanova, CompleteJacques Casanova de Seingalt
aspire
- (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
Word Origin for aspire
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.