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Glite Dictionary
to aspire

to aspire

106 4.1
To want very much to achieve an important goal
  • verb
  • /əˈspaɪər/
translation icon : aspirar a
  • You've always aspired to be a professional artist.
  • aspire to become
  • aspire to a career
  • aspire to college

I mean, I say in the US that we aspire to lead the profession.

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Examples

  • Every scholar should aspire to that attitude and to that ideal.

  • Deputy Speaker, this is a Budget for people who aspire to work hard and get on.

  • It's completely human to want, to aspire for, to aim for.

  • Yes, because you aspire to have double growth.

  • It's just trying to aspire to do the best that you can.

  • But I can only aspire and work to it.

  • Well, again, you know, maybe I aspire too much to two parents in the home.

  • But you... you give 'em something to aspire to.

    Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

  • Anyone who aspires to be anyone hopes to end up here.

    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

  • He has always aspired to be a top scientist in his field.

Synonyms

to hope
vsto aspire
∞ 1.0

To want something to happen and think it may be possible

involves a stronger, more determined wish tied to major goals
to desire
vsto aspire
446 1.6

To want something very much

adds purposeful ambition to that strong wanting toward achievement
to dream of
vsto aspire
385 2.7

To wish for something you want, often something unlikely to happen

is more grounded in a serious desire and ambitious intent
to aim at
vsto aspire
239 2.3

Try to reach a goal

emphasizes a stronger inner wish and ambition for importance
to aim
vsto aspire
234 1.0

To plan to do something to reach a goal

adds a heightened personal desire and ambition to that intent
to aim for
vsto aspire
79 2.8

To try to reach a goal

contains a stronger wish and ambition toward significant success
to shoot for
vsto aspire
  • Informal
30 3.9

To try to reach a big, difficult goal

expresses a strong inner ambition to achieve significant outcomes
to follow your dream
vsto aspire
18 3.4

To try to reach a personal goal despite problems

is more about a powerful desire and ambition for achievement
to dream big
vsto aspire
  • Informal
15 3.4

To have very big goals for the future

shows a deep wish combined with firm ambition to achieve them
to aim high
vsto aspire
5 3.9

Try to reach very difficult goals

is driven by intense ambition and desire for important success
to pursue a dream
vsto aspire
1 3.0

Work to make a dream come true

combines strong wanting with ambition to reach important goals
to have (something) in one's sights
vsto aspire
5.3

Plan to get something you want, like a job or prize

adds the element of strong wanting and important ambition

Antonyms

to give up
∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

to settle
166 3.6

To accept less than you wanted

How Ambitious

to strive
156 3.7
to yearn
92 4.9
to aspire
106 4.1
to want
∞ 1.0
to hope
∞ 1.0
wish
474 1.0

Surface Forms

aspire infinitive
aspired past
aspired past participle
aspiring present participle
aspires third person singular

Etymology

Aspire comes from Latin parts ad- 'to' and spirare 'to breathe', and it first meant 'to breathe toward' a goal. Like inspire, the 'breathe' image shows a rising wish, so to aspire is to have a strong desire to reach something important.