Synonyms

inspire

American

[in-spahyuhr] / ɪnˈspaɪər /

verb (used with object)

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.
1. to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually followed byinto ).
2. to breathe into or upon.

verb (used without object)

to give inspiration.
to inhale.

inspire British

/ ɪnˈspaɪə /

verb

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
archaic (tr)
1. to breathe into or upon
2. to breathe life into

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of inspire

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English inspiren, from Latin inspīrāre “to breathe upon, breathe into,” equivalent to in- in- ² ( def. ) + spīrāre “to breathe”

Explanation

The Olympics often inspire people to take up a sport, but they can also inspire patriotism. Inspire means to excite, encourage, or breathe life into. Inspire comes from the Latin word that means to inflame or to blow in to. When you inspire something, it is as if you are blowing air over a low flame to make it grow. A film can be inspired by a true story. Studying for your test will inspire confidence in you. Successful people often have a role model who inspired them to greatness. Who inspires you?

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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.

See Examples For:

inspire inspires inspired inspiring

"But I say that it is a legacy and a heritage that we should be proud of and use to inspire the next generation."

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

To know they were listening to Soulection at one point, that’s all it was meant to be — to inspire.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

They decided that it made more sense to name them after those who made the institutions great, to inspire people to explore their lives and contributions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

He announced the launch of “Smithsonian Cares,” a digital resource that would “provide tools and guidance to empower and inspire conversations about diversity, equity, access and inclusion.”

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026

There are many creative ways to use these inexpensive instruments to help and inspire you, and which will fire up a child’s imagination.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

I also suspect that, to whatever extent Bill Pay actually inspires more Bill Pay usage, they’re correct about that.

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026

The agreement inspires "very little confidence" as recent incidents of AI going rogue suggest companies have been undisciplined in their approach, she added.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

Taking your peers into battle every week requires leadership that inspires respect and admiration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

Gráinne McGuinness, Creative Director at Paper Owl Films, said she hopes the cartoon, which has been in the making for six years, inspires change in society.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

The law leads to angry protests and inspires Harriet Beecher Stowe to write a serialized novel that will become Uncle Tom's Cabin.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

So this could presage tensions too between Polanski and the party membership, some of whom will have been inspired to join the Greens by his leadership.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Speakers at the event included local, state and federal officials, many of whom described an eagle who inspired conservation and carved out an enduring legacy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

Shoppers also are showing interest in products inspired by Levi’s archives, said Jana Henning, chief merchandising officer for the company’s women’s business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

The “slop bowl” became internet shorthand for the familiar fast-casual mash-up — grains, greens, globally inspired protein, sauce, perhaps an avocado surcharge — assembled with the logic of a cafeteria line and an over-$10 price.

From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026

I don’t think I can explain the despair my surroundings inspired in me.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

He said that while the "technological progress" from AI was "inspiring", the "threat it poses according to its own inventors is daunting".

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

"I'm excited to keep uplifting my friends and cheering them on as they reach for the Moon. Together, we'll keep pushing boundaries and inspiring the next giant leap."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

Its mission, said former assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Remington Kellogg that year, was to “awaken” a “clear understanding of the inspiring story of the United States — its origins, struggles, development, traditions, strength.”

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026

His passion for fostering the community was inspiring and sticks with me.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

“No! No, when I said awesome, I meant, like, inspiring great awe. Daunting. Even fearsome. That a cloud of wind could do all that. It’s terrifying and awful.”

From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake

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