inspire

[ in-spahyuhr ]

verb (used with object)

, in·spired, in·spir·ing.

1. to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence:

   His courage inspired his followers.

2. to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.):

   to inspire confidence in others.

3. to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.:

   to inspire a person with distrust.

4. to influence or impel:

   Competition inspired her to greater efforts.

5. to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does:

   They were inspired by a belief in a better future.

6. to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence:

   writings inspired by God.

7. to guide or control by divine influence.
8. to prompt or instigate (utterances, acts, etc.) by influence, without avowal of responsibility.
9. to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc.:

   a philosophy that inspired a revolution.

10. to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing; inhale.
11. Archaic.
    1. to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually followed by into ).
    2. to breathe into or upon.

verb (used without object)

, in·spired, in·spir·ing.

1. to give inspiration.
2. to inhale.

inspire

/ ɪnˈspaɪə /

verb

1. to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon (a person); animate or invigorate
2. tr; foll by with or to; may take an infinitive to arouse (with a particular emotion or to a particular action); stir
3. tr to prompt or instigate; give rise to

   her beauty inspired his love

4. tr; often passive to guide or arouse by divine influence or inspiration
5. to take or draw (air, gas, etc) into the lungs; inhale
6. archaic.
   tr
   1. to breathe into or upon
   2. to breathe life into

Derived Forms

• inˈspirative, adjective
• inˈspiringly, adverb
• inˈspirer, noun
• inˈspirable, adjective

Other Words From

• in·spir·a·tive [in-, spahyuhr, -, uh, -tiv, in, -spi-rey-tiv], adjective
• in·spirer noun
• in·spiring·ly adverb
• prein·spire verb (used with object) preinspired preinspiring
• pseudo·in·spiring adjective
• rein·spire verb reinspired reinspiring
• unin·spiring adjective
• unin·spiring·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inspire¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English inspiren, from Latin inspīrāre “to breathe upon, breathe into,” equivalent to in- in- ²( def ) + spīrāre “to breathe”

Word History and Origins

Origin of inspire¹

C14 (in the sense: to breathe upon, blow into): from Latin inspīrāre, from spīrāre to breathe

Example Sentences

The extraordinary fundraising efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore inspired pride among his neighbours during the pandemic.

From BBC

Using an unconventional approach inspired by quantum physics, Rice engineer Gururaj Naik and his team designed a thermal emitter that can deliver high efficiencies within practical design parameters.

From Science Daily

"She’s a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans. She will bring the needed reforms to DOJ," he said.

From BBC

Will Trump’s reelection inspire a new round of right-wing attacks on books about race and gender?

From Los Angeles Times

Britt also inspired the slapstick sidekick Harrogate in “Suttree,” which McCarthy was writing when they first met at a Tucson motel swimming pool where she went to safely shower away from her foster home.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• affect
• animate
• arouse
• cause
• embolden
• excite
• galvanize
• get
• hearten
• impress
• influence
• instill
• motivate
• produce
• provoke
• spark
• spur
• stir
• sway
• touch