conspire
Conspire (verb) means to plan something harmful or illegal secretly with others. Example: “They were accused of conspiring to overthrow the government.”
How to use conspire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo secretly plan something with others, or for several factors to combine against you.
Word forms
conspired past tense, conspires singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Two employees _____ to steal company funds.
Etymology
From Old French conspirer, from Latin conspirare — con- ("together") plus spirare ("to breathe"), suggesting people "breathing as one."
Related words
Rhymes for conspire
See all rhymes for conspire →Frequently asked questions
What does “conspire” mean?
The word “conspire” means to plan something harmful or illegal secretly with others. In plain terms, to secretly plan something with others, or for several factors to combine against you.
How do you pronounce “conspire”?
“Conspire” is pronounced kuhn-SPEYE-uh (/kənˈspaɪə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “conspire” in a sentence?
Here is “conspire” used in a sentence: “Two employees conspired to steal company funds.”
What part of speech is “conspire”?
“Conspire” is a verb.
Where does the word “conspire” come from?
The word “conspire” comes from Latin. From Old French conspirer, from Latin conspirare — con- ("together") plus spirare ("to breathe"), suggesting people "breathing as one.".
How many meanings does “conspire” have?
“Conspire” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to plan something harmful or illegal secretly with others.