- present participle of aspire.
aspiring
Americanadjective
Synonym Usage
See ambitious.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of aspiring
First recorded in 1575–1595; aspire ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
If you're aspiring, you're trying to be something. If you're an aspiring singer, you're probably out booking as many gigs as possible in the hopes that someone will soon discover you. The adjective aspiring describes a person who wants to succeed at a particular goal, often one related to a career. Many aspiring artists move to New York City in the hopes that they'll get into a major gallery and sell their art. Aspiring country musicians move to Nashville to try to land a recording deal. If you're an aspiring politician, you may study political science and intern at the state senator's offices to gain experience and make connections.
Vocabulary lists containing aspiring
Almost American Girl
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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.
“Anyone aspiring to a public service career deserves to be safe. It should be fundamental.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2026
Standing beside her hospital bed, his mind drifts to Paris and to Penelope, the aspiring musician he married after falling hopelessly in love.
From Salon • Jun. 30, 2026
In its earliest days, for example, Portnoy discovered that aspiring models from Boston University fared better hawking his free newspaper than did the homeless he first hired for the job.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 27, 2026
Pricey insurance premiums are also a barrier for aspiring home buyers, who must also consider elevated home prices, mortgage rates above 6%, and increasing property taxes when budgeting the cost of homeownership.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 26, 2026
It was the kind of prodigious output that even aspiring male engineers could only hope to replicate.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
