aspire

verb

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

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.
Manchester City, who will try to join them in the Carabao Cup final tonight, are no longer the animal everybody aspires to be. Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 As Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph points out, living and working in Central Florida is nearly impossible without a car for most residents who aspire to something more than a life of poverty. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026 Such a system would be brutally efficient, with civil society no longer able to make decisions that could threaten investments or disincentivize aspiring industrialists; after all, the people would have voted for the president’s agenda. Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026 District Judge Shirley Wohl Kram delivered an emotional introduction about the meaning of citizenship and then asked the aspiring Americans to place their right hands on their hearts and recite the Oath of Allegiance. Gabriel Sherman, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026 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 11 Feb. 2026.

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

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