Aspire means to have a strong desire to achieve something or to aim for a goal with determination. It conveys ambition and forward-looking intent, rather than mere dreaming. The term often appears in formal or aspirational contexts, describing personal or professional aims and the pursuit of higher standards.
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"She aspires to become a published author within the next five years."
"The company aspires to lead the market in sustainable packaging."
"He aspires to run a marathon after months of training."
"Young graduates aspire to contribute meaningfully to their communities."
Aspire comes from the Latin verb aspirare, meaning 'to breathe upon' or 'to breathe toward.' The Latin roots are ad- (toward) and spirare (to breathe, from spirare). In Latin, aspirare carried a sense of breathing toward something aspirational or reaching for. The word entered English in the 14th century through Middle English, retaining the core notion of drawing in air toward a desired end. Over time, the sense broadened from literal breathing toward a goal to figurative striving and ambition. In Early Modern English, aspire often appeared in moral and religious contexts, suggesting a virtuous striving toward excellence. In contemporary usage, aspire frequently collocates with nouns expressing achievement (aspire to greatness, aspire to success) and is common in education, business, and motivational discourse. The evolution reflects a shift from a physical act of breathing toward an abstract act of aiming, with the nuance of purposeful, directed effort rather than passive wishing. First known use in English is documented in the 14th century, with later literary attestations in the Renaissance that emphasize personal ascent and moral ambition. The word remains highly productive in modern English, particularly in formal and semi-formal registers, where it signals intention and a positive, forward-looking mindset.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "aspire" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "aspire"
-ire sounds
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Pronounce as-PIRE with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /əˈspaɪər/, UK /əˈspaɪə/; AU often /əˈspʌɪə/ or /əˈspaɪə/. Start with a schwa, then /ˈspaɪ/ as a rising diphthong, ending with /ər/ or /ə/. The mouth starts relaxed, the tongue rises to a high front position for /aɪ/ in “spai,” and the final vowel is a rhotacized or center vowel depending on accent. Relative stickiness: the /ˈspaɪ/ portion has tight lip rounding only slightly, and the final /r/ in rhotic accents is lightly pronounced or r-colored. Listen for the shift from /ə/ to /ˈspaɪə/ in careful enunciation.
Mistakes commonly involve misplacing the stress (saying a-SPIRE) instead of ə-ˈspaɪər, mispronouncing /spaɪ/ as /spai/ with a pure long i, or dropping the final /ər/ sound in non-rhotic accents. To correct: place primary stress on the second syllable, ensure /aɪ/ is a genuine diphthong in /spaɪ/, and end with a clear, weak /ər/ or /ə/ depending on accent. For non-rhotic speakers, avoid omitting the /r/ if it follows a vowel cluster before another consonant; use a light /ə/ or /ɜː/ as appropriate.
In US, /əˈspaɪər/ with rhotics, final /r/ pronounced; in UK RP, /əˈspaɪə/ with non-rhoticity and a syllabic ending more like /ə/ or a light /ə/; in AU, often /əˈspaiə/ or /əˈspʌɪə/ with slightly broader vowels and a more rounded onset for /ˈspai/. Rhythm remains trochaic (stressed on the second syllable). The core /ˈspaɪ/ diphthong is consistent, but the trailing vowel quality and rhoticity shift. IPA references: US /əˈspaɪər/, UK /əˈspaɪə/, AU /əˈspʌɪə/.
Because it centers on a rising diphthong /aɪ/ immediately after a schwa, creating a vowel sequence that can slide in two directions: from a neutral /ə/ into /aɪ/ and then toward /ər/ or /ə/. Coordinating the transition between a lax /ə/ or /ɪ/ envelope and a higher /aɪ/ nucleus demands precise tongue elevation and lip shaping. The final /ər/ or/ə/ adds rhotics or reduced vowels, which vary by accent, complicating consistent pronunciation across listeners.
The word uniquely combines a stressed /ˈspaɪ/ nucleus with a trailing r-colored or non-rhotic ending depending on accent. The critical point is the /aɪ/ nucleus following a reduced vowel and the optional rhotacization of the final vowel in rhotic accents. You may also encounter vowel quality shifts in rapid speech where the /ɪ/ or /ə/ can be reduced, making the /aɪə/ closer to /aɪə/ or /aɪəɹ/ in certain dialects.
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