aspire
To aspire means to have a strong desire or ambition to achieve something important.
Explanation at your level:
You want to do something big. You work hard for it. That is to aspire. If you want to be a pilot, you aspire to fly planes.
To aspire means you have a big dream. You plan your future. You work every day to reach your goal. It is a very positive word.
When you aspire to something, you are setting a high target for your life. It is often used for careers, like 'I aspire to be a doctor.' It shows you are serious about your future success.
Aspire is a verb used to describe the ambition to reach a high status or ideal. It is more formal than 'want.' We use it when talking about long-term goals or character development, such as 'She aspires to be a leader in her community.'
In advanced English, aspire implies a noble or significant pursuit. It is frequently used in professional contexts to describe the trajectory of one's career or the moral standards one sets for oneself. It carries a nuance of dedication and persistent effort.
Etymologically, aspire suggests a 'breathing toward' a goal. At the C2 level, it is used to describe the synthesis of vision and action. It is often found in literary or philosophical discourse, denoting the human drive to transcend current limitations and reach for an idealized state of being.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Aspire means to have a strong ambition.
- It is usually followed by 'to'.
- It is a formal and positive word.
- It shares a root with 'breathe'.
When we talk about aspiring, we are talking about the fuel that drives our dreams. It is not just about wanting something; it is about the active, intentional pursuit of a high goal.
Think of it as the difference between wishing for a pony and aspiring to become a veterinarian. One is a passive thought, while the other involves a plan and a journey.
You will often see this word used in professional or academic contexts. People aspire to greatness, aspire to lead, or aspire to change the world. It carries a sense of nobility and purpose.
The word aspire has a beautiful history rooted in the Latin word aspirare. This literally means 'to breathe upon' or 'to blow toward'.
In ancient times, the idea was that a person's ambition was like a breath of wind pushing them toward their destination. It moved into Middle English through Old French, maintaining that sense of reaching upward.
Interestingly, it shares a root with the word respiration (breathing). Just as we need breath to live, our aspirations are the 'breath' that gives our professional and personal lives direction and life.
You will most commonly use aspire with the preposition to. We say 'aspire to' followed by a noun or a verb.
It is generally used in formal or semi-formal settings. You might hear it in a college admission essay, a job interview, or a motivational speech. It sounds a bit too heavy for casual conversation like, 'I aspire to eat a sandwich,' unless you are being very sarcastic!
Common pairings include aspire to excellence, aspire to leadership, and aspire to a career in a specific field.
While 'aspire' itself isn't an idiom, it is often part of expressions like aspire to great heights, which means to aim for the absolute best results possible.
Another common phrasing is an aspiring [noun], such as an aspiring actor or aspiring writer, which denotes someone currently working toward their goal.
We also use the phrase to aspire to the impossible, meaning to set goals that others think cannot be reached. These phrases help convey the intensity and the vision behind the ambition.
Aspire is a regular verb. Its forms are aspire (base), aspires (third-person singular), aspired (past), and aspiring (present participle).
The pronunciation is /əˈspaɪər/. The stress is on the second syllable: a-SPIRE. It rhymes with words like fire, admire, desire, and inspire.
Grammatically, it is almost always followed by the preposition 'to'. You don't usually say 'I aspire a goal'; you say 'I aspire to a goal' or 'I aspire to reach a goal'.
Fun Fact
It comes from the same root as 'spirit' and 'respiration'.
Pronunciation Guide
The 'r' at the end is often silent or very soft.
The 'r' is clearly pronounced.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'a' as 'ah'
- Putting stress on the first syllable
- Dropping the 'r' in US English
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to understand in context.
Requires correct preposition usage.
Common in professional speech.
Clear pronunciation.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Infinitive clauses
I aspire to learn.
Prepositional verbs
Aspire to something.
Stative verbs
I aspire.
Examples by Level
I aspire to be a teacher.
I want to be a teacher.
Verb + to + base verb.
She aspires to help people.
She wants to help people.
Third person singular -s.
We aspire to win.
We want to win.
Simple present.
He aspires to learn.
He wants to learn.
Simple present.
They aspire to travel.
They want to travel.
Infinitive structure.
I aspire to be kind.
I want to be kind.
Adjective usage.
Do you aspire to sing?
Do you want to sing?
Interrogative form.
We aspire to work hard.
We want to work hard.
Adverb usage.
I aspire to finish my degree.
She aspires to start her own business.
They aspire to live in a big city.
He aspires to become a professional athlete.
We aspire to make a difference.
Do you aspire to learn a new language?
She aspires to be a famous artist.
I aspire to travel the world.
Many students aspire to attend top universities.
He aspires to a position of leadership within the company.
She has always aspired to a career in medicine.
They aspire to create a more sustainable future.
I aspire to be as patient as my mentor.
Do you aspire to work abroad?
He aspires to write a bestselling novel.
We aspire to provide excellent service.
The organization aspires to bridge the gap between education and industry.
She aspires to the highest standards of professional conduct.
He aspires to be remembered for his contributions to science.
They aspire to achieve global recognition for their work.
I aspire to reach a level of fluency that allows for nuance.
Many young politicians aspire to change the status quo.
She aspires to lead by example.
We aspire to maintain a balance between work and life.
The candidate aspires to a vision of reform that transcends party lines.
He aspires to the kind of intellectual rigor rarely seen in modern discourse.
She aspires to embody the values of integrity and compassion.
They aspire to create art that challenges the viewer's perceptions.
I aspire to a life of simplicity and profound reflection.
The project aspires to address the root causes of systemic inequality.
He aspires to emulate the great thinkers of the Enlightenment.
We aspire to reach a consensus that satisfies all stakeholders.
His work aspires to a state of sublime beauty that defies categorization.
She aspires to the stoic ideal of enduring hardship with grace.
The movement aspires to reconstruct the very foundations of the society.
They aspire to a level of mastery that is both rare and transformative.
I aspire to a legacy that persists long after I am gone.
The architecture aspires to harmonize with the surrounding landscape.
He aspires to a transcendence of the mundane through his poetry.
We aspire to a future where such divisions are obsolete.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"aim for the stars"
Set very high goals.
Always aim for the stars.
casual"reach for the moon"
Try to achieve something very difficult.
She is reaching for the moon.
casual"have one's heart set on"
Deeply desire something.
He has his heart set on medical school.
neutral"set one's sights on"
Focus on a specific goal.
I have set my sights on the championship.
neutral"go the extra mile"
Put in extra effort to achieve a goal.
She goes the extra mile in her work.
neutral"shoot for the moon"
Try for a high goal.
You should shoot for the moon.
casualEasily Confused
Similar sound.
Inspire is to motivate others; aspire is to have your own goal.
He inspires me to aspire to greatness.
Rhymes.
Desire is a feeling; aspire is an action toward a goal.
I desire peace, so I aspire to work in diplomacy.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + aspire + to + noun
They aspire to success.
Subject + aspire + to + verb
I aspire to help.
Adjective + aspiring + noun
An aspiring actor.
Subject + aspire + to + be + adjective
I aspire to be kind.
Subject + aspire + to + reach + noun
We aspire to reach the peak.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
7/10
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
Aspire requires the preposition 'to'.
Common confusion with 'aim for'.
Stative verbs are often better in simple tenses.
Wrong preposition choice.
Aspire is not followed by a 'that' clause.
Tips
Use it for big goals
Save 'aspire' for your life's big dreams.
Don't forget 'to'
Always follow it with 'to'.
Breathe it in
Remember the Latin root 'to breathe' to link it to spirit.
Pair it with nouns
Learn it with 'aspire to greatness' or 'aspire to leadership'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-SPIRE: A Spirit that wants to Reach higher.
Visual Association
A person climbing a ladder toward a bright star.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write down one thing you aspire to achieve this year.
Wortherkunft
Latin
Original meaning: To breathe upon
Kultureller Kontext
None, it is a universally positive word.
It is a staple of motivational culture and professional development.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Job Interviews
- I aspire to grow with this company
- I aspire to lead projects
College Essays
- I aspire to contribute to the field
- I aspire to learn from the best
Self-Improvement
- I aspire to be a better person
- I aspire to master this skill
Mentorship
- She inspires me to aspire to more
Conversation Starters
"What is one thing you aspire to achieve this year?"
"Do you think it is better to aspire to money or happiness?"
"Who is someone you know that aspires to do great things?"
"What did you aspire to be when you were a child?"
"Is it important to always have something you aspire to?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a goal you aspire to reach in five years.
Describe the difference between a wish and something you aspire to.
How does your current work help you reach what you aspire to?
If you could aspire to anything without fear of failure, what would it be?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenYes, it is generally used in formal or serious contexts.
Usually no, it is reserved for significant goals.
Aspiration.
Yes, almost always.
Yes, it follows standard conjugation rules.
No, you aspire to a state or achievement, not a person.
uh-SPY-er.
Someone who is working on becoming a writer.
Teste dich selbst
I ___ to become a doctor.
Aspire is the correct verb for ambition.
What does 'aspire' mean?
Aspire is about goals.
You can 'aspire' a sandwich.
Aspire requires a goal, not an object like food.
Word
Bedeutung
Matching synonyms.
Correct structure is Subject + Verb + to + Verb.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
To aspire is to breathe life into your dreams by taking action toward a high goal.
- Aspire means to have a strong ambition.
- It is usually followed by 'to'.
- It is a formal and positive word.
- It shares a root with 'breathe'.
Use it for big goals
Save 'aspire' for your life's big dreams.
Don't forget 'to'
Always follow it with 'to'.
Breathe it in
Remember the Latin root 'to breathe' to link it to spirit.
Pair it with nouns
Learn it with 'aspire to greatness' or 'aspire to leadership'.
Beispiel
Most of the children in this neighborhood aspire to go to university.
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