aspiring

American

[uh-spahyer-ing] / əˈspaɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

eagerly or ambitiously aiming for a particular career, title, social status, etc.: a team of aspiring gold medalists.

an aspiring composer;
a team of aspiring gold medalists.

Related Words

See ambitious.

Other Word Forms

aspiringly adverb
nonaspiring adjective
unaspiring adjective
unaspiringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of aspiring

First recorded in 1575–1595; aspire ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

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.

Bill Ackman, aspiring to replace him as the world’s leading investment guru, thinks the time has come to act on that advice.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Here, he discusses “The Pitt,” his best advice for aspiring chefs and rethinking menus for the Ozempic era.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

"I am going to appeal to all female aspiring candidates to ensure that they record all these cases," Mainga Kabika, the civil service head of the gender division in the president's office, said on Monday.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

But there’s real depth in how the screenplay also shows Archie Madekwe’s charismatic aspiring singer running face-first into the contradictions of building his brand on being an internet goofball.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

You’re off to a great start as an aspiring director.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023