- 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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Astronauts
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Doctor Faustus
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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.
Amid today’s U.S. housing crisis, the Midwest has repeatedly emerged as an attractive, cheap option for aspiring home buyers.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026
One of the biggest mistakes aspiring founders make is waiting for everything to be perfect so Wong recommends following an "80-20 rule".
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
“I was like, ‘I have to write about L.A. in the 2000s because that was what we were absolutely aspiring to at all times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
In the film, Early plays Maddie Ralph, an aspiring test-kitchen chef at a hip food publication.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
Visiting valets, I have found, are often the worst offenders, aspiring as they usually do to the position of butler with some urgency.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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.
