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

• intend
• plan
• hope
• mean
• aim
• wish
• go [chiefly Southern & Midland]

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

As a two-time All-Star and one of the most prolific playoff scorers of this generation, he’s become a role model for aspiring athletes in one of the largest and most diverse cities in the world. —Shane Young, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

The couple’s experience may be a glimmer of hope in a housing market that has been nothing but grim for young, aspiring homebuyers the past decade. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025

And while the job may come with a corner office and a cushy salary, the CEO of the shoe company Brooks Running, Dan Sheridan, has a message for aspiring Gen Z corporate leaders: the job isn’t so glamorous all the time. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025

Find a like-minded group of aspiring writers and run with them. —Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 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