inspiration

noun

Sayin-spuh-RAY-shuhn/ˌɪn.spɚˈeɪ.ʃən/AUS/ˌɪn.spəˈɹæɪ.ʃən/UKin-spi-RAY-shuhn/ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/

6 meanings of inspiration

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A feeling of energy and new ideas that pushes you to create or do something.
Like a spark that lights a fire of new ideas.
He felt a sudden burst of inspiration and began to paint.
Travel often gives writers fresh inspiration for their stories.
Similarmotivation, spark
Note
2
nouncountable or uncountable
A person or thing that fills you with energy and new ideas.
Like a hero you look up to who makes you want to try harder.
Her grandmother was a real inspiration to everyone in the family.
The mountain view became the inspiration for his new song.
Similarexample, model, influence, muse, stimulus
Note
3
nouncountable or uncountable
A clever new idea that comes to you all at once.
Like a light suddenly turning on inside your head.
In a flash of inspiration, she solved the puzzle.
His best inspiration came while he was washing the dishes.
Similaridea, brainwave, thought, notion
Note
4
nouncountable or uncountable
A holy power from God that helped prophets and writers share religious truth.
Like a message passed straight from God to a person.
Believers say the prophets wrote with inspiration from God.
The church teaches that the scriptures came through divine inspiration.
Similarrevelation
Note
5
nouncountable
One breath of air taken into the body.
Like a balloon filling up as air is pulled inside.
The doctor asked her to hold each inspiration for a few seconds.
With every inspiration, his chest rose a little.
Similarinhalation
Oppositeexhalation, expiration
Note
6
noununcountable
The act of pulling air into the lungs as part of breathing.
Like a pump drawing air inside.
Inspiration brings fresh air into the lungs.
During inspiration, the chest expands to let air in.
Similarinhalation
Oppositeexhalation, expiration
Note

Practice

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Origin

It came through Old French from a Latin word based on the verb meaning "to breathe in." It is inspire plus -ation.