aspire

verb

as·​pire ə-ˈspī(-ə)r 

aspired; aspiring

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

• intend
• plan
• hope
• mean
• aim
• wish
• go

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

This approach gives aspiring business owners the resources to buy and operate an existing company rather than starting one from the ground up. —Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025

Four aspiring directors – Angie Nolan, Hannah Michielsen, Huriyyah Muhammad, and Sarah Wilson Thacker – were selected to begin the mentorship phase of the program. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 Nov. 2025

Still, the chapter said, the Seattle DSA aspires to operate like a political party. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 17 Nov. 2025

This network was what all pop culture aspired to be, with its own franchises in news, fashion (House of Style), comedy (The State), cartoons (Beavis & Butt-Head), reality trash, sports, politics, Andy Dick (The Andy Dick Show), everything. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2025

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

Rhymes for aspire

• admire
• afire
• backfire
• esquire
• expire
• haywire
• hellfire
• inquire
• inspire
• newswire
• perspire
• rehire

Kids Definition

aspire

verb

as·​pire ə-ˈspī(ə)r 

aspired; aspiring

: to work to get something high or great

aspirer noun