aspiration
gb/ˌæspɚˈeɪʃən/ us/ˌæspɚˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
~ 5800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
B2
state
1
Strong desire to achieve something
A strong wish to do or be something important, often in your job or life.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has aspirations to [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "aspiration" with "inspiration". "Aspiration" is a desire or goal you want to reach, while "inspiration" is something that gives you a good idea or strong feeling to do something. Learners also sometimes use it too casually in everyday speech where "goal" or "dream" would sound more natural.
Synonyms
ambition (Very close in meaning; more common and slightly less formal than "aspiration".)
|
dream (Sounds more emotional and romantic, less focused on practical achievement.)
Antonyms
lack of ambition (Describes having no strong desire to achieve more, which is the opposite of having aspirations.)
|
contentment (Being satisfied with what you have, without wanting to reach a higher level or new goal.)
Collocations
career aspirations
|high aspirations
|personal aspirations
|aspirations and dreams
|aspirations for the future
|political aspirations
Themes
work
|education
|emotions
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her career aspiration is to lead a global non-profit organization.
- The company encourages employees to talk openly about their professional aspirations.
- Many young people have high aspirations but limited opportunities.
- His political aspirations became clear when he joined the party’s leadership team.
- Moving abroad fitted perfectly with their shared aspirations for an adventurous life.
Learner examples
- She has big aspirations to become a doctor.
- My parents always support my aspirations for a better life.
- He has no aspiration to be rich; he just wants a simple life.
- The school helps students think about their future aspirations.
- Traveling the world is one of my main aspirations.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
2
Specific important goal or aim
A special and important goal that a person wants to reach.
Usage pattern:
an aspiration to [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "aspiration" with very small or everyday goals (e.g., "my aspiration is to finish this homework"), which sounds too strong. Use it for big, important, or long-term goals. Also, use the pattern "an aspiration to become a doctor", not "an aspiration for become a doctor".
Synonyms
goal (More general and common; can be small or big, while an "aspiration" is usually important and long-term.)
|
aim (Similar, but can describe short-term or practical targets more than deep life plans.)
Antonyms
limitation (Suggests a boundary on what can be achieved, the opposite of having a high or clear aspiration.)
Collocations
main aspiration
|lifelong aspiration
|an aspiration to become [something]
|an aspiration to [verb]
|central aspiration
|shared aspiration
Themes
work
|education
|personal_growth
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her main aspiration is to become a judge in the high court.
- Affordable housing is a central aspiration of the new government policy.
- Owning a small business has been his lifelong aspiration.
- The program supports students whose aspiration is to study abroad.
- Creating a fairer society is one of the organization’s core aspirations.
Learner examples
- My biggest aspiration is to start my own company.
- One of her aspirations is to write a book.
- Our shared aspiration is to live in a safe city.
- His aspiration to become a pilot began when he was a child.
- The course can help you reach your career aspirations.
Noun
technical
C1
event
3
Breathing foreign material into lungs
When food, drink, or another substance goes into the lungs by mistake while a person is breathing or swallowing.
Usage pattern:
aspiration of [substance] into the lungs
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this medical meaning with the common meaning of "aspiration" as a desire or goal. In health or hospital contexts, "aspiration" usually refers to something going into the lungs by mistake.
Synonyms
inhalation (General term for drawing air or substances into the lungs; only means the harmful kind in medical context when specified, while "aspiration" here is specifically harmful or accidental.)
Antonyms
normal swallowing (Refers to food or liquid going safely down the esophagus and into the stomach, not into the lungs.)
Collocations
aspiration pneumonia
|risk of aspiration
|food aspiration
|prevent aspiration
|silent aspiration
|aspiration of stomach contents
Themes
medicine
|health
|body
Examples
- Patients with swallowing difficulties are at higher risk of aspiration.
- The doctor explained that aspiration of stomach contents can lead to serious complications.
- Thickened liquids are often used to reduce the chance of aspiration in elderly patients.
- The X-ray showed signs of aspiration of food particles into the right lung.
- Nurses are trained in positioning techniques to help prevent aspiration during feeding.
Learner examples
- The nurse checks the patient to make sure there is no aspiration when he drinks.
- Aspiration of food into the lungs can be very dangerous.
- People who cannot swallow well have a higher risk of aspiration.
- To prevent aspiration, the doctor told him to sit up when he eats.
- The baby was taken to hospital because the doctor suspected aspiration.
Noun
technical
C1
action
4
Removing body fluid by suction
A medical process where a doctor uses a needle or tube to pull out liquid, gas, or tissue from the body with suction.
Usage pattern:
aspiration of [fluid/tissue] from [body part]
Common mistake:
Learners may think of only the "desire" meaning of "aspiration" and not recognize this medical sense. In medical writing, look at nearby words like "needle", "fluid", or "biopsy" to see it as a suction procedure, not a hope or goal.
Synonyms
suction (Refers broadly to the pulling force; "aspiration" is the specific act or procedure of using suction in a medical or technical setting.)
Antonyms
injection (Injection adds fluid or medication into the body, while aspiration removes it.)
Collocations
needle aspiration
|fine-needle aspiration
|fluid aspiration
|aspiration of joint fluid
|aspiration of a cyst
|gastric aspiration
Themes
medicine
|science
|health
Examples
- The doctor performed a needle aspiration to remove fluid from the patient’s knee.
- Fine-needle aspiration was used to collect cells from the thyroid nodule for testing.
- Ultrasound-guided aspiration of the cyst relieved the patient’s pain.
- The report described an aspiration of bone marrow from the hip bone.
- Gastric aspiration was carried out to check for internal bleeding.
Learner examples
- The doctor did an aspiration to take fluid out of her knee.
- Fine-needle aspiration is used to test a small piece of tissue.
- After the aspiration, the swelling in his joint went down.
- The nurse prepared the tools for the aspiration procedure.
- Aspiration of the cyst helped the patient feel better.
Noun
technical
C1
property
5
Breath sound after a consonant
In the study of sounds, the extra puff of air that comes out after some consonants, like the "p" in "pin" in English.
Usage pattern:
aspiration of [consonant]
Common mistake:
Learners not familiar with linguistics may think this still means a "hope" or "goal". In language or phonetics texts, "aspiration" almost always refers to the breath after a consonant.
Synonyms
breathy release (A descriptive technical phrase used in phonetics; less common as a fixed term than "aspiration".)
Antonyms
unaspirated stop (Refers to a consonant that is released without a noticeable burst of air, the opposite of an aspirated consonant.)
Collocations
aspiration of /p/
|aspiration in English
|degree of aspiration
|aspiration contrast
|voiceless aspirated stops
|presence or absence of aspiration
Themes
language
|linguistics
|education
|communication
Examples
- In English, the aspiration of /p/ in "pin" contrasts with the lack of aspiration in "spin."
- Learners often struggle to produce the correct level of aspiration in word-initial stops.
- The language distinguishes words by the presence or absence of aspiration on consonants.
- Aspiration is stronger at the beginning of stressed syllables.
- Phonetic symbols sometimes include a small superscript "h" to mark aspiration.
Learner examples
- In English, the sound /p/ in "pin" has strong aspiration.
- Some languages use aspiration to make different words.
- The teacher asked students to listen for aspiration after the /t/ sound.
- Aspiration is an extra breath after a consonant.
- He practiced saying /k/ with and without aspiration.
Grammar
Dictionary form
aspiration
IPA
GB/ˌæspɚˈeɪʃən/
US/ˌæspɚˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
as - pir - a - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pir)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: aspiration
- Plural: aspiration, aspirations
Word family
Forms
aspirations
noun
Core family
Related words
aspirant
noun
Expressions
aspiration pneumonia
1/ˌæspɚˈeɪʃən numˈoʊnjə/
fixed phrase
technical
Pneumonia from material in lungs
A lung infection that happens when food, drink, or vomit goes into the lungs instead of the stomach.
Examples
- Older adults with swallowing problems are at higher risk of aspiration pneumonia.
- The patient was admitted with suspected aspiration pneumonia after vomiting during surgery.
- Proper feeding techniques can reduce the chances of aspiration pneumonia.
aspiration pneumonia
1/ˌæspɚˈeɪʃən numˈoʊnjə/
fixed phrase
technical
pneumonia from inhaled material
pneumonia caused by food or liquid going into the lungs
Examples
- After the stroke, he was at higher risk of aspiration pneumonia.
- The care team monitored her swallowing to prevent aspiration pneumonia.
- Aspiration pneumonia can occur if vomit is inhaled into the lungs.
aspirations and dreams
1/ˌæspɚˈeɪʃənz ˈænd dɹˈimz/
fixed phrase
Hopes and important future wishes
A person’s strong wishes and hopes for what they want in life.
Examples
- The book encourages young readers to think about their aspirations and dreams.
- They talked late into the night about their aspirations and dreams for the future.
- Parents often have their own aspirations and dreams for their children.
career aspirations
1/kɚˈɪɹ ˌæspɚˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
Long-term goals for your career
The jobs or work positions that a person strongly wants to have in the future.
Examples
- The interview included questions about his career aspirations over the next ten years.
- Teachers should understand their students’ career aspirations to guide them better.
- She moved cities to follow her career aspirations in the tech industry.
fine-needle aspiration
1/fˈaɪn nˈidəl ˌæspɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
Biopsy using a thin needle
A medical test where a doctor uses a very thin needle and suction to take a small piece of tissue or fluid from the body for study.
Examples
- The doctor recommended a fine-needle aspiration to check the lump in her neck.
- Fine-needle aspiration is a quick and usually safe way to collect cells for diagnosis.
- Results from the fine-needle aspiration will help decide if surgery is needed.