aspiration
as-puh-RAY-shuhn
Aspiration (noun) means a strong hope or ambition to achieve something, especially something admirable. Example: “Her aspiration was to become a surgeon.”
noun
1
A strong hope or ambition to achieve something, especially something admirable.
"Her aspiration was to become a surgeon."
"The company has aspirations of expanding into Europe."
2
(medicine) The act of drawing out fluid or tissue from the body using suction, usually through a needle.
"The doctor performed a needle aspiration to drain the cyst."
3
(phonetics) A puff of breath released after certain consonant sounds.
"The "p" in "pin" has more aspiration than the "p" in "spin.""
How to use aspiration
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA goal or ambition someone strives toward; in medicine, drawing fluid out with a needle; in linguistics, a puff of air after a consonant.
Common pairings
career aspirations
aspirations for the future
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Word forms
- Plural
- aspirations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ was to become a surgeon.
Etymology
From aspire plus the suffix -ation.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for aspiration
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for aspiration →
Frequently asked questions
What does “aspiration” mean?
The word “aspiration” means a strong hope or ambition to achieve something, especially something admirable. In plain terms, a goal or ambition someone strives toward; in medicine, drawing fluid out with a needle; in linguistics, a puff of air after a consonant.
How do you pronounce “aspiration”?
“Aspiration” is pronounced as-puh-RAY-shuhn (/ˌæspəˈɹeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “aspiration” in a sentence?
Here is “aspiration” used in a sentence: “Her aspiration was to become a surgeon.”
What part of speech is “aspiration”?
“Aspiration” is a noun.
Is “aspiration” a common word?
“Aspiration” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “aspiration” have?
“Aspiration” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong hope or ambition to achieve something, especially something admirable.
