inspire
to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence: His courage inspired his followers.
to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.): to inspire confidence in others.
to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.: to inspire a person with distrust.
to influence or impel: Competition inspired her to greater efforts.
to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does: They were inspired by a belief in a better future.
to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence: writings inspired by God.
to guide or control by divine influence.
to prompt or instigate (utterances, acts, etc.) by influence, without avowal of responsibility.
to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc.: a philosophy that inspired a revolution.
to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing; inhale.
Archaic.
to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually followed by into).
to breathe into or upon.
Origin of inspire
1Other words from inspire
- in·spir·a·tive [in-spahyuhr-uh-tiv, in-spi-rey-tiv], /ɪnˈspaɪər ə tɪv, ˈɪn spɪˌreɪ tɪv/, adjective
- in·spir·er, noun
- in·spir·ing·ly, adverb
- pre·in·spire, verb (used with object), pre·in·spired, pre·in·spir·ing.
- pseu·do·in·spir·ing, adjective
- re·in·spire, verb, re·in·spired, re·in·spir·ing.
- un·in·spir·ing, adjective
- un·in·spir·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for inspire
/ (ɪnˈspaɪə) /
to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon (a person); animate or invigorate
(tr; foll by with or to; may take an infinitive) to arouse (with a particular emotion or to a particular action); stir
(tr) to prompt or instigate; give rise to: her beauty inspired his love
(tr; often passive) to guide or arouse by divine influence or inspiration
to take or draw (air, gas, etc) into the lungs; inhale
(tr) archaic
to breathe into or upon
to breathe life into
Origin of inspire
1Derived forms of inspire
- inspirable, adjective
- inspirative, adjective
- inspirer, noun
- inspiringly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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