noun

inspiration

ihn-spih-RAY-shuhn

noun

A person, idea, or experience that stimulates creativity or motivation.

"Her grandmother was the inspiration for the novel's main character."

"Traveling gave him plenty of inspiration for new songs."

A sudden creative or clever idea.

"He had a flash of inspiration and solved the puzzle in minutes."

(physiology) The act of drawing air into the lungs.

"The doctor listened to his inspiration and exhalation through the stethoscope."

How to Use Inspiration

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething (or someone) that sparks creativity, motivation, or a good idea — or, in medicine, the act of breathing in.

Common pairings

a source of inspiration draw inspiration from a flash of inspiration

inspirations plural

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Her grandmother was the _____ for the novel's main character.

From Old French inspiration, from Late Latin inspirationem, from inspirare ("to breathe into") — the same root that gives us "inspire."

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