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

• aim
• allow [chiefly Southern & Midland]
• calculate
• contemplate
• design
• go [chiefly Southern & Midland]
• intend
• look
• mean
• meditate
• plan
• propose
• purport
• purpose

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

The authors aspire to a world in which there is clean energy to power every convenience, medical care and medicines that allow people to live longer and healthier lives, and a happy balance between work and time with friends and family. —Brian Deese, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

While Florida, like the rest of the U.S, is going through a housing affordability crisis, a growth in inventory hasn't been met with enthusiasm from aspiring buyers pushed to the sidelines of the market in recent years. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025

Gone are the days of aspiring child stars waiting to move to Hollywood and nab acting or modeling gigs. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Evan Lam, who aspires to study medicine at UC Irvine, often acts as his mom’s Disney ears style arbiter. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 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