aspire

verb

as·​pire ə-ˈspī(-ə)r How to pronounce aspire (audio)
aspired; aspiring
Synonyms of aspire

intransitive verb

1
: to seek to attain or accomplish a particular goal
She aspired to a career in medicine.
2
: ascend, soar
aspirer noun

Synonyms of aspire

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Examples of aspire in a Sentence

aspire to great deeds, and you have a better chance of doing good deeds a tower aspiring towards the heavens
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Han called luck one of the most important things in the industry, and closed with advice for aspiring filmmakers. — Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026 Creator Jesse McKeown’s limited series (which allows room to expand into an ongoing series, as needed) aspires to be little more than entertainment. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026 Bryant aspires to become a doctor for a deeply personal reason. — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 What Burnside aspires toward instead is an expression of the place’s spiritual core, some evocation of a regionally specific truth that might explain the percolating rottenness. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aspire

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French aspirer, from Latin aspirare, literally, to breathe upon, from ad- + spirare to breathe

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aspire was in the 14th century

Rhymes for aspire

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Browse Nearby Words

aspirator
aspire
aspirer
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Cite this Entry

“Aspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aspire. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

aspire

verb
as·​pire ə-ˈspī(ə)r How to pronounce aspire (audio)
aspired; aspiring
: to work to get something high or great
aspirer noun
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