aspire
gb/əspˈaɪɚ/ us/əspˈaɪɚ/
B2
English
~ 8700
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
have a strong wish or ambition
To strongly want to achieve something important in your life, and try to get it.
Usage pattern:
to aspire to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often say *"aspire for"* instead of *"aspire to"*. In standard modern English, you almost always say *aspire to [something]* (e.g., *aspire to success*, *aspire to a better life*, *aspire to be a doctor*). Another common mistake is leaving out *to be* or *to become*: you should say *"aspire to be a doctor"* or *"aspire to become a doctor"*, NOT *"aspire a doctor"*.
Synonyms
aim (More general and common; does not always suggest something high or noble.)
|
strive (Emphasizes hard effort and struggle, not just desire.)
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ambition (Usually a noun; often suggests a strong drive for power, success, or status.)
|
yearn (Suggests deep emotional longing rather than a clear, practical goal.)
Antonyms
settle for (Means to accept less than you really want, the opposite of trying for something higher.)
|
be content with (Means to be satisfied with what you have and not want something more or higher.)
Collocations
aspire to greatness
|aspire to success
|aspire to become
|aspire to a career in
|young people aspire to
|aspire to leadership
Themes
goals
|career
|education
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many young professionals aspire to leadership roles in international companies.
- She aspires to become a human rights lawyer and work at the United Nations.
- The program helps students from low-income families who aspire to attend university.
- He never aspired to fame; he simply wanted to do meaningful work.
- Startups often aspire to disrupt traditional industries and change how people live.
Learner examples
- I aspire to be a doctor one day.
- She aspires to a career in science.
- Many children aspire to play sports at a high level.
- They aspire to live and work in another country.
- My brother aspires to run his own business.
Verb
literary
C2
action
2
rise or stretch upward
To go or stretch upward toward the sky or a high place, used mainly in formal or poetic writing.
Usage pattern:
to aspire toward [a height/sky]
Synonyms
rise (More common and neutral; does not carry the poetic or lofty tone of "aspire" in this sense.)
|
tower (Emphasizes great height and often dominance over surroundings.)
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soar (Suggests moving or standing very high, often with a feeling of freedom or lightness.)
Antonyms
sink (Describes moving downward, the opposite direction of rising or aspiring upward.)
|
lie low (Describes staying close to the ground, not rising upward.)
Collocations
spire that aspires skyward
|towers aspire above the city
|walls aspiring upward
Themes
nature
|literature
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Slender church spires aspire above the old rooftops of the town.
- Tall pine trees aspire toward the pale winter sky.
- A single glass tower aspires over the river, catching the evening light.
Learner examples
- The narrow tower aspires high into the sky.
- Thin trees aspire upward beside the road.
- A white spire aspires above the small houses.
- On the hill, stone walls aspire toward the clouds.
Grammar
Dictionary form
aspire
IPA
GB/əspˈaɪɚ/
US/əspˈaɪɚ/
Syllables & stress
as - pire (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pire)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: aspire
- 3rd Person Singular: aspires
- Present Participle: aspiring
- Past: aspired
Word family
Forms
aspires
verb
aspiring
verb
aspired
verb
Core family
aspiration
noun B2
aspirational
adjective
Advanced or less common
aspirant
noun
Expressions
aspire to
1/əspˈaɪɚ tə/
fixed phrase
strongly want to achieve something
To strongly want and plan to get or reach something, usually something high or important.
Examples
- Many students from rural areas aspire to study abroad.
- She aspires to a senior position in the company.
- They aspire to a life where they can work less and spend more time with their family.