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

No one knows why Taylor has brought her TikTok crush — an aspiring country singer named Ben — to her house in Utah right before she is supposed to start filming The Bachelorette. —Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026

This may do little to assuage the concerns of those who do not aspire to become a musician and whose current job seems likely to be replaced by AI. —Adam Ozimek, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026

Ponyboy wants to prove his manhood but also aspires to be a writer. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026

The film, which premiered at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival, is set in the late ’90s and follows aspiring musicians Bain and Billy Boyd, whose musical ambitions were dismissed because of their Scottish accents. —Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026

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