DictionaryAI

aspire

verb
uh-SPYR/əˈspaɪɚ/UKuh-SPY-uh/əˈspaɪə(ɹ)/

Formsaspires, aspiring, aspired

3 meanings of aspire

Practice

  1. 1
    verbintransitive
    To want very much to do or become something important.

    Like reaching hard for something high up that you really want.

    Many young athletes aspire to compete in the Olympics one day.

    We aspire to make our small business grow.

    Similardream, strive, yearn, pursue, crave

    Note
  2. 2
    verbarchaicintransitive
    To rise up high, or to stand very tall.

    Like a tree growing taller and taller toward the sky.

    The old towers aspire high above the village rooftops.

    Seas that restlessly aspire, / Surging, unto skies of fire;
    1844, Edgar Allan Poe, “Dream-Land”Here, aspire means rise or reach upward to a great height.

    Similarrise, soar, tower, ascend

    Note
  3. 3
    verbobsoletetransitive
    To climb up and reach the very top of something.
    Mercutio’s dead! / That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds,
    c. 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”Here, aspired means rose all the way up to, reaching the clouds.
    rockes so high / That birds could scarce aspire their ridgy toppes
    c. 1608, George Chapman, The Conspiracy and Tragedy of CharlesHere, aspire means rise as high as, so birds could barely reach the tops.

    Similarascend, mount

    Note

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Origin

It comes from Latin 'aspīrō', meaning 'breathe on' or 'desire', through Old French and Middle English.