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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

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 films Leawood and Clockwork are producing inspire discussion.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026

P-22’s story helped to inspire the creation of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which is scheduled to open on Dec. 2.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Shah said on X that he hoped the anniversary would "inspire us all to move forward towards building a fair, transparent, and opportunity-filled Nepal".

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

“The vital spirit originates here, in-the heart, and is perfected by the lungs, which inspire the blood with air,” Hamlet explained.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

“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

Now, as it emerges from a postindustrial decline, Genoa is again attracting tourists and with good reason: The city is full of surprises, with an eccentric charm that inspires exploration.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

The sort of day that inspires confidence in the state of the world.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

Connolly also presented Trump with a collection of poems by Michael Longley that includes “Ceasefire,” a poem inspired by the 1994 IRA ceasefire that helped pave the way for the Good Friday Agreement.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026

At least, that’s the scientist’s reasoning for why the names she chose for four newly described Australian insect species were inspired by her favorite world-famous pop star.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

A sculpture inspired by a desire to bring a contemporary "everywoman" to Trafalgar Square has been unveiled on London's Fourth Plinth.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

"A key challenge faced by biomimetic science is realizing environmentally friendly material designs inspired by nature at the scale and cost of existing materials," said Assoc.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026

Either way, I inspired someone to do something.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

"We're competitors but we're also motivating each other, inspiring each other, pushing each other to do better in the races," she says.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

Meta is far from the only company trying to build quickly without inspiring too much input from the rabble.

From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026

GS: Entering into a professional relationship with a friend can be inspiring and fulfilling, but also complicated.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Yet a sense of cynical self-regard belies these inspiring declarations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

The inspiring one, the one I want to know more about.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

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