aspiration
noun
as·pi·ra·tion
ˌa-spə-ˈrā-shən 
1
a
: a strong desire to achieve something high or great
an aspiration to become famous
—usually plurala young man with political/literary aspirations
b
: an object of such desire
An acting career is her aspiration.
2
: a drawing of something in, out, up, or through by or as if by suction: such as
a
: the act of breathing and especially of breathing in
b
: the withdrawal (as by suction) of fluid or tissue from the body
the aspiration of stomach fluids
c
: the taking of foreign matter into the lungs with the respiratory current
problems caused by the aspiration of fluids into the patient's lungs
3
linguistics
a
: audible breath that accompanies or comprises a speech sound
b
: the pronunciation or addition of an aspiration
the aspiration of the letter "h" in "a house"
also
: the symbol of an aspiration
Examples of aspiration in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
April 2025 The Star: The cards suggest April will bring a refreshing burst of hope and clarity for you, Aries, as The Star invites you to reconnect with your dreams and aspirations.
—
Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025
One mistake companies make when trying to monetize their data is not focusing on the most valuable data—data that helps people align their behaviors with their aspirations.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
The girls share their aspirations, dreams and the emotional toll of their fathers’ absence, revealing a profound wisdom and resilience beyond their years.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 1 May 2025
The Bloc Québécois is downplaying its separatist aspirations in favor of unity and cooperation with the Liberals against national threats.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aspiration
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Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025
One mistake companies make when trying to monetize their data is not focusing on the most valuable data—data that helps people align their behaviors with their aspirations.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
The girls share their aspirations, dreams and the emotional toll of their fathers’ absence, revealing a profound wisdom and resilience beyond their years.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 1 May 2025
The Bloc Québécois is downplaying its separatist aspirations in favor of unity and cooperation with the Liberals against national threats.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aspiration
Cite this Entry
“Aspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aspiration. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aspiration
noun
as·pi·ra·tion
ˌas-pə-ˈrā-shən
1
: pronunciation with or as an aspirate
2
: a drawing of something in, out, up, or through by suction
3
a
: a strong desire to achieve something high or great
b
: an object of such desire
Medical Definition
aspiration
noun
as·pi·ra·tion
ˌas-pə-ˈrā-shən
: a drawing of something in, out, up, or through by or as if by suction: as
a
: the act of breathing and especially of breathing in
b
: the withdrawal of fluid or friable tissue from the body
c
: the taking of foreign matter into the lungs with the respiratory current
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