inspire
ihn-SPEYE-uh
Inspire (verb) means to fill someone with the motivation or creative energy to do something. Example: “Stories about explorers inspire many children to dream of travelling the world.”
verb
1
To fill someone with the motivation or creative energy to do something.
"Stories about explorers inspire many children to dream of travelling the world."
"Her courage inspired the whole team to keep going."
"The old cathedral inspired the architect's new design."
2
(formal, physiology) To breathe in.
"The nurse told him to inspire slowly and then breathe out."
"Muscles in the chest help us inspire air into the lungs."
"Patients were asked to inspire deeply before the scan."
How to use inspire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo fill someone with motivation or a creative idea, or literally to breathe air in.
Common pairings
inspire confidence
inspire someone to
inspired by
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- inspires
- Past tense
- inspired
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Stories about explorers _____ many children to dream of travelling the world.
Etymology
From Old French inspirer, from Latin inspirare ("to breathe into"), from in- + spirare ("to breathe") — a loan-translation of a Biblical Greek phrase meaning "to breathe [life] into."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for inspire
See all rhymes for inspire →Frequently asked questions
What does “inspire” mean?
The word “inspire” means to fill someone with the motivation or creative energy to do something. In plain terms, to fill someone with motivation or a creative idea, or literally to breathe air in.
How do you pronounce “inspire”?
“Inspire” is pronounced ihn-SPEYE-uh (/ɪnˈspaɪɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “inspire” in a sentence?
Here is “inspire” used in a sentence: “Her courage inspired the whole team to keep going.”
What is another word for “inspire”?
Words with a similar meaning to “inspire” include beghast.
What is the opposite of “inspire”?
The opposite of “inspire” — its antonyms — is expire.
What part of speech is “inspire”?
“Inspire” is a verb.
Where does the word “inspire” come from?
The word “inspire” comes from Latin. From Old French inspirer, from Latin inspirare ("to breathe into"), from in- + spirare ("to breathe") — a loan-translation of a Biblical Greek phrase meaning "to breathe [life] into.".
Is “inspire” a common word?
“Inspire” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between inspire and motivate?
To inspire is to fill someone with the inner drive or creative energy to do something, often through example, art, or ideas. To motivate is to give someone a reason or incentive to act, which can be as practical as a deadline or a reward. Inspiration tends to spark enthusiasm from within, while motivation can be supplied externally.
What is the difference between inspire and aspire?
Inspire is something you do to someone else: you fill them with motivation or creative energy. Aspire is something you do yourself: you aim or hope to achieve something, as in "she aspires to be a surgeon." A mentor inspires you; you aspire to a goal.
Does inspire have a meaning related to breathing?
Yes. In formal physiological use, to inspire means to breathe in, and its opposite in that context is expire, meaning to breathe out. This technical sense appears mainly in medical and scientific writing, while everyday usage almost always refers to filling someone with motivation.
Is it "inspired by" or "inspired from"?
The standard collocation is "inspired by," as in "a film inspired by true events." "Inspired from" is a common learner error and sounds unnatural to most native speakers. Use "by" to name the source of the inspiration.
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