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

Sasha, 7, an aspiring gymnast, was staying in a house in the Zatoka area of Odessa that got hit by a Russian missile. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Feb. 2025

The respective acts will each record a new piece of music as part of their studio session, while aspiring engineers and producers will be invited into the room to observe the creative process. —Sophie Williams, Billboard, 19 Feb. 2025

Miller was a much loved member of her community and an aspiring nursing student, according to WFSB. —Laura Barcella, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025

The victims’ names have yet to be released by police, but local television station WFSB has identified the adult victim as Hailey Miller, a 19-year-old aspiring nursing student. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 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

Kids Definition

aspire

verb

as·​pire ə-ˈspī(ə)r 

aspired; aspiring

: to work to get something high or great

aspirer noun