aspire

verb

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

intransitive verb

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

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.
But aspiring for fame alone, Green cautions, isn’t a strategy. Preston Fore, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025 Mo, for her part, does see creators continuing to aspire to traditional stardom. Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025 Her mission and her success have become an inspiration to many other aspiring entrepreneurs in Uganda who also grew up with limited resources, according to Jackie Aldrette, executive director of AVSI-USA, the organization that provided Nandudu's training with funding from the Netherlands. Fatma Tanis, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025 Williams and Thomas, both aspiring rappers with the YNW collective, were known as YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aspire. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on aspire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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