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

Brody played Nikolai, lead singer of the aspiring rock band Low Shoulder. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 9 June 2025

The cuts will disrupt ongoing research, ruin experiments and datasets, destroy the careers of aspiring scientists, and deter long-term investments at universities across the country. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025

Pros agree getting a degree in the U.S. provides a clear, structured path for aspiring creatives looking to enter Hollywood’s animation industry. —Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025

Jurors heard the stories of three accusers over the course of the eight-week trial — former TV production assistant Miriam Haley, Polish model and aspiring actress Kaja Sokola, and one-time actress Jessica Mann. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 5 June 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