inspire

[ in-spahyuh r ]

/ ɪnˈspaɪər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inspire ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), in·spired, in·spir·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), in·spired, in·spir·ing.

to give inspiration.

to inhale.

Nearby words

inspirator, inspiratory, inspiratory capacity, inspiratory reserve volume, inspiratory stridor, inspire, inspired, inspired gas, inspirer, inspiring, inspirit

Origin of inspire

1300–50; Middle English inspiren < Latin inspīrāre to breathe upon or into, equivalent to in- in-² + spīrāre to breathe

Related forms

in·spir·a·tive

[in-spahyuh r-uh-tiv, in-spi-rey-tiv] /ɪnˈspaɪər ə tɪv, ˈɪn spɪˌreɪ tɪv/, adjectivein·spir·er, nounin·spir·ing·ly, adverbpre·in·spire, verb (used with object), pre·in·spired, pre·in·spir·ing.

pseu·do·in·spir·ing, adjectivere·in·spire, verb, re·in·spired, re·in·spir·ing.un·in·spir·ing, adjectiveun·in·spir·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inspire

There is, however, a separate wing of AQAP designed to inspire their followers to conduct attacks against the West.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But these were technical solutions and unlikely to inspire protests alone.
Sharpton Recalls Civil Rights Struggle in DC March Against Police Violence|Ben Jacobs|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The 2014 election was a wipeout, progressives say, because Democrats lacked a bold economic message to inspire voters.
Progressives: Big Ideas Will Win Us 2016|David Freedlander|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Miraculously, Malala survived, and her courage, wisdom, and optimism have continued to transfix and inspire the world.
Promoting Girls’ Education Isn’t Enough: Malala Can Do More|Paula Kweskin|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I would like to inspire some people from Africa, and my country, to try and work hard and be a supermodel.
I Got Kicked Out Of The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show|Nico Hines|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Calm and quiet when danger raged, he could inspire in his comrades a boundless confidence.
The Heart of Pinocchio|Collodi Nipote
What power so dangerous, when moral earnestness ceases to inspire the feelings?
The Mirrors of Downing Street|Harold Begbie
Everything here appears calculated to inspire kind and happy feelings, for everything is delicate and beautiful.
Washington Irving|Charles Dudley Warner
It would have been difficult to find models more fitted to inspire a great painter.
The Wandering Jew, Complete|Eugene Sue
Besides her distinguished beauty, Lady Blessington offered much, in her life and surroundings, to inspire a painter.
McClure's Magazine, Volume VI, No. 3. February 1896|Various

British Dictionary definitions for inspire

inspire

/ (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 toher 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

Derived Formsinspirable, adjectiveinspirative, adjectiveinspirer, nouninspiringly, adverb

Word Origin for inspire

C14 (in the sense: to breathe upon, blow into): from Latin inspīrāre, from spīrāre to breathe

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

Word Origin and History for inspire

inspire

mid-14c., enspiren, "to fill (the mind, heart, etc., with grace, etc.);" also "to prompt or induce (someone to do something)," from Old French enspirer (13c.), from Latin inspirare "inflame; blow into" (see inspiration), a loan-translation of Greek pnein in the Bible. General sense of "influence or animate with an idea or purpose" is from late 14c. Also sometimes used in literal sense in Middle English Related: Inspired; inspires; inspiring.

inspire

verb (used with object), in·spired, in·spir·ing.

verb (used without object), in·spired, in·spir·ing.

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inspire

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inspire

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inspire

v.