aspiring 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈspī-riŋ How to pronounce aspiring (audio)
Definition of aspiringnext
as in ambitious
having a strong desire for personal advancement an aspiring young pianist eager to win the prestigious competition

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

aspiring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of aspire
1
as in planning
to have in mind as a purpose or goal aspire to great deeds, and you have a better chance of doing good deeds

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in rising
to move or extend upward a tower aspiring towards the heavens

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of aspiring
Adjective
Igby Rigney, known for roles in various Mike Flanagan TV shows (Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club), plays a young Bret, depicted as an aspiring writer. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 14 July 2026 His older sisters are frequently photographed out and about, but Louis—an aspiring actor—largely stays out of the spotlight. — Christopher Luu, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Verb
Parsons’ rise to mainstream creative stardom, built out of internet virality and obscure message-board subculture, represents a new path for aspiring filmmakers—one that doesn’t necessarily require submitting to traditional film festivals. — Rachel Brodsky, Time, 14 July 2026 Understanding the relationship between cash flow, burn rate and growth is the most valuable financial lesson an aspiring founder can learn. — Vikram Joshi, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for aspiring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspiring
  1. ambitious
  2. planning
  3. rising
  4. intending
  5. ascending
  6. looking
  7. climbing
  8. aiming
Adjective
  • If African countries want to meet their ambitious industrialization goals, improving education outcomes — especially in STEM subjects — is a prerequisite, experts argued.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 17 July 2026
  • Indeed, some of the country’s most ambitious conservation work is focused on restoring ecosystems, preserving indigenous cultures and rewilding landscapes that had been altered by agriculture.
    — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of ambitious
Verb
  • Documents said that same day, someone from the foster home told the original Pembroke Pines Police Department investigating officer Goldbourne was planning to come back and meet with another underage girl.
    — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Buc-ee’s is planning to improve road conditions along Speedway Boulevard and Village West Parkway to make room for new visitors.
    — Sofi Zeman July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
Definition of planning
Verb
  • The country’s economic momentum has been accompanied by rising foreign direct investment.
    — Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 19 July 2026
  • The announcement comes as the United States accelerates investment in advanced nuclear energy to meet rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, advanced manufacturing and other energy-intensive industries.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
Definition of rising
Verb
  • Prosecutors say the group amassed guns, explosives, drones and body armor, intending to bomb the UFC Freedom 250 crowd and shoot fleeing spectators before the plan was disrupted.
    — Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • Visitors with overnight paddle, overnight motor and overnight hiking permits who were intending to enter the forest between Monday and Friday will have their reservations canceled.
    — Aki Nace, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of intending
Verb
  • Along with the ascending scope of the previous two struggles, this third struggle would be for a wider freedom, not simply for the people of one nation, but for all people for all time.
    — Rob Nofsinger, Christian Science Monitor, 10 July 2026
  • The cause of death was an undetected ascending aortic aneurysm.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 10 July 2026
Definition of ascending
Verb
  • Semiconductors are looking tenuous here, as traders try to gauge whether the air is coming out of a trade where the retail crowd are using leverage to double down on bets.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 July 2026
  • Resplendent in a dark top and flowered scarves, Jackie has his hair ratted out, creating a kind of nimbus around his poignant, ready-to-laugh face, which is powdered white, with shiny, metallic-looking paillettes around the eyes.
    — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
Definition of looking
Verb
  • The stock market has rallied to all-time highs this year, climbing a wall of worry that included an energy shock from an ongoing war with Iran.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • Not long ago, a group of anthropologists were climbing the Inca Trail, the legendary hike through the cloud forests of the Andes Mountains that concludes at Machu Picchu’s Sun Gate.
    — JD Shadel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Definition of climbing
Verb
  • Spieth was not aiming for the 13th fairway, but instead the right rough.
    — Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The game just happens to fall on Bastille Day, as France is aiming to reach its third straight World Cup final.
    — David Hickey, NBC news, 14 July 2026
Definition of aiming

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Cite this Entry

“Aspiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspiring. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of aspiring for Spanish Speakers

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