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

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

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