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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

It spits out copious suggestions, some of which inspire me to make revisions and improvements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

On the second level, a chef’s kitchen with high-end stainless appliances, a center island, and sweeping ocean views is poised to inspire impressive culinary endeavors.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

"The design celebrates the stories behind each runner, and the incredible causes that inspire so many people to take on the event," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

USC center Tobias Raymond’s mother died of cancer when he was in the eighth grade, but her lessons on work ethic and leadership continue to inspire him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

We hope this book will inspire you to be the fourth leg of the race by encouraging you to pick up a pen and be a catalyst for change.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

This inspires a funny magic bit set in a fantasy DMV office—much preferable to a real one, needless to say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

“His intensity level, the way he approaches the game, is something that inspires a player to even play even harder, play with even more technique, or play with more detail,” Barksdale said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 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

You should expect no less for Raising Cane’s, a chicken-finger spot that inspires something close to religious devotion among its growing flock.

From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026

A few people start grooving on the makeshift dance floor, which inspires Angela and Hilda to leave the bar area.

From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya

That strange feature inspired Schrödinger's famous thought experiment involving a cat that is both alive and dead until it is observed.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026

Many of these ancillary items, strategically placed among approximately 140 Van Herpen designs, have inspired the couturier.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

And accompanying that fresh energy is a new marketing strategy, which includes hosting its first-ever London Fashion Week show on Friday, featuring a collection of outfits inspired by the brand's archive.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Her sobriquet is a journalistic creation thought to have been inspired by a celebrated 1946 movie, “The Blue Dahlia,” written by crime novelist Raymond Chandler.

From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026

Given what is at stake at this moment in history, bolder, more inspired action is required than we have seen to date.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Ms. Singer describes what she believes is the inspiring addition of a course called AP Computer Science Principles to school offerings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

"I simply want to measure, for the first time, whether the equivalence between gravitational and inertial mass also applies to the second generation of particles -- this alone is quite an inspiring piece of work."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026

Investors are largely anticipating the Federal Reserve will raise its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday, but the prospect of higher borrowing costs isn’t the only thing inspiring angst on Wall Street.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

The museum board said Exposition Park would allow the institution to “have the greatest impact on the broader community, fulfilling our goal of inspiring, engaging and educating a broad and diverse visitorship.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

He had never in his life smelled anything so lovely, so inspiring.

From "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread" by Kate DiCamillo

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