aspire

American  

[uh-spahyuhr] / əˈspaɪər /

verb (used without object)

• aspires,
  present (3rd person singular)
• aspired,
  past participle,  past
• aspiring
  present participle

1. 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

2. Archaic. to rise up; soar; mount; tower.

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aspire British  

/ əˈspaɪə /

verb

1. 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

2. to rise to a great height

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Synonym Usage

See ambitious

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• aspirer
  noun
• aspiring
  adjective
• nonaspiring
  adjective
• unaspiring
  adjective
• aspiringly
  adverb
• unaspiringly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• aspiring
  present
• aspired
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• aspire
  simple
• aspires
  simple
• have aspired
  perfect
• has aspired
  perfect
• am aspiring
  progressive
• are aspiring
  progressive
• is aspiring
  progressive
• have been aspiring
  perfect progressive
• has been aspiring
  perfect progressive

Past

• aspired
  simple
• had aspired
  perfect
• was aspiring
  progressive
• were aspiring
  progressive
• had been aspiring
  perfect progressive

Future

• will aspire
  simple
• will have aspired
  perfect
• will be aspiring
  progressive
• will have been aspiring
  perfect progressive

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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”

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aspire aspires aspired aspiring

"It's amazing to have role models come into our club and give young girls something to aspire to," Beth added.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

In addition, a 2025 national Morning Consult survey commissioned by EdChoice found that Americans who aspire to have three or more children disproportionately prefer private, charter and home schooling over conventional public schooling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

Becoming a content creator has officially elbowed out old standbys like doctor and astronaut as the job that Gen Z and Gen Alpha most aspire to have.

From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026

It’s something I aspire to by the hour.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

He said, “That, Octavian, is something to aspire to.”

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

The irony for the wider European community during this latest wave of unrest is that Rama has long been viewed favourably by the EU, which Albania aspires to join.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

"He's ready to close this chapter and focus on his recovery and engage in therapy as he aspires to have a normal life."

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

The serious journalism Margaret aspires to do is splintering under our distrust of who controls the megaphones.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026

Eden Bower, a statuesque young woman, aspires to stardom on the stage; her real name is Edna Bowers—“her father sold farming machinery in Huntington, Illinois.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

The story, which helped Canetti earn the Nobel Prize in literature, includes a character named Fischerele who aspires to become chess champion of the world.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Bel aspired to build a life in America, the friend said.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

When I graduated from college, I aspired to be a war correspondent and report on the humanitarian crises shaping our time.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

She always aspired to have lots of kids, her own mother testified, and even her career, as a labor and delivery nurse, was centered around bringing children into the world.

From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026

Growing up a few blocks from campus, Trinidad aspired to be a veterinarian as a child.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

His friend Tyger aspired to be one of those.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

For many aspiring pros, a running store operates as an ecosystem.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

“Both efforts advanced today aim to support independent shoots and attract aspiring storytellers to our city,” Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, who introduced the initiatives, said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

“If you don’t have the work ethic, I don’t think you should be taking this class,” said Jaiden Hsu, an aspiring opera singer from Chicago.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

After Thursday saw King Kenny recruited by the traitors - that episode ending with his deliciously evil laugh - the YouTuber and former aspiring boxer brought fresh and fiendish energy to the turret.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Like how he used to make beats, and sell instrumental tapes to aspiring rappers and singers in the neighborhood.

From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds

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Related Words

• crave
• pursue
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