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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Michelle Obama's final address as First Lady (2017)
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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:
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
“We’re really hoping to inspire the teams now, to show them that there’s depth behind the things they do.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
Wang said that investigating a wider range of organisms may inspire new approaches to some of medicine's most challenging problems.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
"From my perspective, any avenue that brings in more resources is good because those resources would be distributed and given to federations, especially on the African continent and that would inspire growth."
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
Chains rattle, rivers roll, animals startle and bolt, forests inspire and expand, babies stretch open-mouthed from the womb, new seedlings arch their necks and creep forward into the light.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
“She’s such a badass professional. It was so fun because she inspires me to also be more flexible and creative.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 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
The segment ends on a starkly moving note when a visit to the Anne Frank House inspires an unexpected epiphany.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Indeed, it is this that inspires most of the questions present-day visitors put to the Capitol guides.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
Unseasonably pleasant weather inspires people to pay at a higher rate.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
Manchester United's new away shirt is inspired by the Red Devils' 1988-90 third kit, which was only worn in three matches.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
The chance to showcase both the past and present is what inspired Knox, who hasn’t coached at Dorsey since 2014, to put on this event.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
Mexican side Club America's new home shirt is inspired by one worn during the 1998-99 season, with the club's crest blown up across the torso.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
I’ve been inspired by friends and acquaintances sharing their personal-finance “mind hacks.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
“Talk about how the paper chain project inspired you to explore your Jewish heritage.”
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
Known as the "Skype mafia" effect, founders and early employees took the experience they gained from the company and went on to start their own companies, inspiring others to do the same.
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 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
Urbanova, meanwhile, also hopes her success is inspiring and that she keeps up her record-setting streak.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
A microbudget director saving the summer box office with a thoughtfully gruesome movie about naivety, misogyny and consequences is an inspiring Oscars meta-narrative.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Music and singing played a critical role in inspiring, mobilizing, and giving voice to the Civil Rights movement.
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
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.
