inspire
Americanverb (used with object)
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inspires,
present (3rd person singular)
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inspired,
past participle, past
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inspiring
present participle
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to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence.
His courage inspired his followers.
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to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.).
to inspire confidence in others.
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to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc..
to inspire a person with distrust.
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to influence or impel.
Competition inspired her to greater efforts.
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to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does.
They were inspired by a belief in a better future.
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to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence.
writings inspired by God.
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to guide or control by divine influence.
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to prompt or instigate (utterances, acts, etc.) by influence, without avowal of responsibility.
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to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc..
a philosophy that inspired a revolution.
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to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing; inhale.
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Archaic.
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to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually followed byinto ).
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to breathe into or upon.
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verb (used without object)
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inspires,
present (3rd person singular)
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inspired,
past participle, past
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inspiring
present participle
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to give inspiration.
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to inhale.
verb
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to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon (a person); animate or invigorate
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(tr; foll by with or to; may take an infinitive) to arouse (with a particular emotion or to a particular action); stir
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(tr) to prompt or instigate; give rise to
her beauty inspired his love
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(tr; often passive) to guide or arouse by divine influence or inspiration
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to take or draw (air, gas, etc) into the lungs; inhale
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archaic (tr)
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to breathe into or upon
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to breathe life into
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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inspirernoun
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reinspireverb
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preinspireverb (used with object)
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inspirableadjective
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inspirativeadjective
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pseudoinspiringadjective
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uninspiringadjective
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inspiringlyadverb
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uninspiringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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inspiresimple
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inspiressimple
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have inspiredperfect
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has inspiredperfect
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am inspiringprogressive
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are inspiringprogressive
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is inspiringprogressive
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have been inspiringperfect progressive
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has been inspiringperfect progressive
Past
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inspiredsimple
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had inspiredperfect
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was inspiringprogressive
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were inspiringprogressive
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had been inspiringperfect progressive
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?
Vocabulary lists containing inspire
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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:
There’s a world where A.I.-assisted short films could improve in quality and possibly inspire less-recognized creatives to realize their ambitions.
From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2026
“I think cats are like works of art that inspire you to be truer to yourself,” Meyer says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Indiana is in many ways a liminal state, the place you pass through between scruffy Cleveland and business-like Chicago, with little to inspire romantic odes to home.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
"It's a natural phenomenon that will have been witnessed by humanity forever, so it's something that will inspire people."
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Bull never understood how Virgil accomplished the same results; he could not fathom the mystery that Virgil speaking quietly but firmly could inspire a quality of fear that men who yelled could never approach.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Volunteer Chelsea Johnson said she hoped the project inspires more people to become interested in astronomy once the site open.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
As John McKay, a musicologist, writes, “the very idea” of such a device inspires “a sense of awe and wonder.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Regardless of how he fares this week, Howard says his Open debut will be worthwhile if it inspires other people with cystic fibrosis to chase their dreams.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
But the road to the Elle Woods who graduates at the top of her law school class, storms Capitol Hill and inspires a Broadway musical has to start somewhere.
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026
The law leads to angry protests and inspires Harriet Beecher Stowe to write a serialized novel that will become Uncle Tom's Cabin.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
The character inspired the show’s signature slogan: “Save the cheerleader, save the world.”
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
It eventually inspired him to pursue a career in acting and opportunities in Hollywood.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
The home, which was built in 1980, was always meant to serve as a relaxing sanctuary, having been inspired by Balinese architecture.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
High-end party planner Charlotte Melia said "balloon arches" had grown in popularity, with many people inspired by parties held by influencers and celebrities.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Maybe the Mona Lisa thief had been inspired by Arsène Lupin!
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
They might be poseurs tossing around references to Ginsberg and Bukowski, but the welcome mat the group offers Ed is enticing and inspiring.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
"What we see on the Earth is inspiring what we want to do in our space science research," she added.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
The inspiring tale of a forgotten hero: In 1990, a single dad got fed up with the billboards for cigarettes targeting Chicago’s Black neighborhoods.
From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2026
Fox has often credited her father with inspiring her love of space after he showed her the moon landing on television when she was eight months old.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
To Charles it was powerful and in some ways inspiring.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
