inspire
Americanverb (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.
-
to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually followed byinto ).
-
to breathe into or upon.
-
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)
-
to breathe into or upon
-
to breathe life into
-
Other Word Forms
- inspirable adjective
- inspirative adjective
- inspirer noun
- inspiringly adverb
- preinspire verb (used with object)
- pseudoinspiring adjective
- reinspire verb
- uninspiring adjective
- uninspiringly adverb
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”
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.
"At PBS, we will continue to do what we've always done: serve our mission to educate and inspire all Americans as the nation's most trusted media institution."
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
“The world is quieter today. But press play on anything he touched, and you will hear exactly why we mourn him, and exactly why we are forever grateful he was here to inspire us.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
But, she tells Newsbeat, she hopes being up on stage herself will inspire others who are thinking of getting into the space.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Nearly 60 years later, the country is once again mired in deep division and uncertainty, and the crew of Artemis 2 will soon have their chance to inspire.
From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026
“She gave me a poem. She said she wanted to inspire me.”
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
