inspire

[ in-spahyuhr ]

/ ɪnˈspaɪər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: inspire / inspired / inspires / inspiring 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.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of inspire

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

OTHER WORDS FROM inspire

in·spir·a·tive

[in-spahyuhr-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. 2023

How to use inspire in a sentence

The original grades inspired widespread outrage when an algorithm applied appeared to disadvantage good students from poor backgrounds.
UK Universities Predicted a COVID-19 Crash. They Got the Opposite|Fiona Zublin|September 17, 2020|Ozy
So we put together a creative, Outside-inspired PE curriculum to get you through the fall semester.
A 15-Week Exercise Plan for Kids and Families|Krista Langlois|September 12, 2020|Outside Online
Rather than relying on a set of explicit hand-crafted instructions, modern algorithms use artificial networks loosely inspired by the mammalian brain.
Welcome to the Next Level of Bullshit - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Raphaël Millière|September 9, 2020|Nautilus
The answer isn’t more selfies, but instead to be more inspired to speak up.
Reclaiming My Gen Z Identity|Shaan Merchant|September 7, 2020|Ozy

In his book, Moore provides such a test, which inspired the one you see below.
Use this tool to overcome the biggest decision-making mistake|David Yanofsky|September 6, 2020|Quartz
But locals there say any money deposited is thrown into an unlocked cupboard behind the tellers, hardly inspiring confidence.
ISIS’s Futile Quest to Go Legit|Jamie Dettmer|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yet to hear one of the victims so publicly rejecting the kinds of terms used in the past was inspiring.
Jennifer Lawrence’s Righteous Fury Says Everything We Wanted to Say|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tickets go on sale to the public January 15; check back then for a link and an early peek at the inspiring lineup of speakers.
Save the Date: Women in the World 2015||December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are plenty of tragic and inspiring choices, but the most obvious legacy Castro will leave behind is the broken family.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
John Luther Adams lives up to the title of his composition, capturing an oceanic torrent of sound in an awe-inspiring performance.
The Best Albums of 2014|Ted Gioia|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She played very well, keeping excellent waltz time and infusing an expression into the strains which was indeed inspiring.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
She may be as chaste as unsunned snow, she is certainly as cold: but for warm, inspiring virtue!
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
She is still inspiring the unfinished work of creation, and her delight is with the children of men.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
It is true that I was impressed with him in a way, because the man was rather—er, inspiring, and I entertained hopes.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
It would be hard to imagine anything more inspiring than the vistas which opened to us as we sped along.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy

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 forms of inspire

inspirable, 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

inspire

Origin of inspire

OTHER WORDS FROM inspire

Words related to inspire

How to use inspire in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inspire

Derived forms of inspire

Word Origin for inspire