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 Probably no one in the cast wanted to meet Hughes more than 23-year-old Robert Hayden, an aspiring poet who had grown up nearby in Paradise Valley. Tom Stanton, Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024 Applications are accepted continuously, providing ongoing support to aspiring women in tech. Ebony Flake, Essence, 20 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, the aspiring driver has been keeping herself busy spearheading the revamp of a 1970s-era house in the posh Beverly Hills enclave of Trousdale Estates. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024 Veteran receivers coach Fred Graves broke him into the NFL, and running backs coach Ollie Wilson, drawing on his experiences with LaDainian Tomlinson, challenged him to aspire for the Hall of Fame. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024 Annie is trying to reconnect with her lifelong best friend, bride-to-be Lillian (Maya Rudolph), who is seated with snobby, wealthy bridesmaid and aspiring BFF Helen (Rose Byrne). Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Public accounting firms, especially those offering comprehensive tax services, provide an invaluable learning ground for CPAs aspiring to specialize in tax. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Turning The Page: A Cold Read Exercise w/Robi Reed Calling all aspiring actors and actresses! Essence, 9 Mar. 2024 In the evolving landscape of finance and taxation, making an informed decision between pursuing a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a tax preparer is crucial for aspiring professionals. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aspire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near aspire

Cite this Entry

“Aspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aspire. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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