inspiration

American  

[in-spuh-rey-shuhn] / ˌɪn spəˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an inspiring or animating action or influence.

   I cannot write poetry without inspiration.

   Synonyms:

   incitement, stimulus

2. something inspired, as an idea.

3. a result of inspired activity.

4. a thing or person that inspires.

5. Theology.

   1. a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.

   2. the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.

6. the drawing of air into the lungs; inhalation.

7. the act of inspiring; quality or state of being inspired.

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inspiration British  

/ ˌɪnspɪˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. stimulation or arousal of the mind, feelings, etc, to special or unusual activity or creativity

2. the state or quality of being so stimulated or aroused

3. someone or something that causes this state

4. an idea or action resulting from such a state

5. the act or process of inhaling; breathing in

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inspiration Scientific  

/ ĭn′spə-rā′shən /

1. See inhalation

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Other Word Forms

• reinspiration
  noun

Etymology

Origin of inspiration

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English inspiracio(u)n, from Late Latin inspīrātiōn-, stem of inspīrātiō literally “a breathing in,” from inspīrāt(us) “breathed in” (past participle of inspīrāre; see inspire) + -iō -ion

Explanation

An inspiration is a product of your thought, like a brilliant idea. If you have the next revolutionary inspiration like the printing press, the telephone, or the computer, you may just change the world. The noun inspiration can also mean a sudden intuition or idea, or something that arouses your desire to take action. You may find that doing some routine provides inspiration (gets your creative juices flowing), like going for a walk, looking at art, or reading a great poem. Inspiration can also mean breathing in or inhaling.

Example Sentences

The big screens at Tynecastle flashed with images of divine inspiration - well, Rudi Skacel, which amounts to the same thing around here.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

But I’d like to make the case for my pasta, which draws inspiration from classic spaghetti alla puttanesca while doubling down on the acidity, brightness and overall tang.

From Salon • May 1, 2026

The visit is the inspiration for Francine Prose’s “Five Weeks in the Country.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

So says Leslie Fremar, outing herself as the real-life inspiration for Emily, the uptight first assistant to fictional magazine editor Miranda Priestly.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Back and forth in front of the windows, the way he did when searching for inspiration for one of his speeches.

From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon

Related Words

• encouragement
• enthusiasm
• genius
• incentive
• influence
• insight
• motivation
• revelation
• vision