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.
Movie follows the true story of the 1977 kidnapping that turned aspiring Indianapolis entrepreneur Tony Kiritsis into an eccentric outlaw folk hero. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025 Willa became a fan favorite — the aspiring playwright who offers an outside perspective of the obscenely wealthy and manipulative Roy family. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025 Mills enters the race at a strange moment — the government has been shut down for two weeks and Collins is among the aspiring dealmakers trying to figure out how to reopen it. Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2025 For the descendants of fired, demoted, and aspiring civil servants, the adverse economic effects persisted for generations. Time, 14 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 21 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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