aspire
C1Formal to Neutral. Common in professional, academic, and personal development contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To have a strong desire to achieve something significant, usually a challenging or high-status goal.
To direct one's hopes, ambitions, or efforts toward a particular objective; to have a longing or yearning for something lofty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost always used with the preposition 'to' (aspire to greatness), 'for' (aspire for a better life), or with an infinitive (aspire to become). Implies a degree of ambition and effort. Not typically used for simple, easily attainable desires.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The grammatical patterns are identical.
Connotations
Slightly more formal and aspirational in British English, though the term is used similarly in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; perhaps marginally higher in American business/self-help discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to aspire to + NOUN (aspire to greatness)to aspire to + VERB (aspire to lead)to aspire + INFINITIVE (aspire to be a doctor)to aspire for + NOUN (aspire for peace)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To aspire to the stars (to have very high ambitions)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for career goals and organisational vision. 'Managers should aspire to create an inclusive culture.'
Academic
Common in discussions of intellectual or professional ambition. 'The programme is designed for students who aspire to academic research.'
Everyday
Used for personal life goals. 'She aspires to run her own bakery one day.'
Technical
Rare in highly technical fields outside of management or philosophy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Many young footballers aspire to play at Wembley.
- What career did you aspire to as a child?
American English
- She aspires to run for political office.
- We aspire to create a more equitable society.
adjective
British English
- The brand targets an aspiring middle-class demographic.
American English
- He took classes for aspiring novelists.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I aspire to be a teacher.
- He aspires to play in a band.
- They aspire to buy a house in the countryside.
- What kind of job do you aspire to have?
- The party aspires to win a majority in the next election.
- Many students aspire to study at top universities.
- The novel explores the tensions between the life we have and the one to which we aspire.
- True leaders aspire to empower others, not just to hold power themselves.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ASPIRE as A Strong Passion Igniting Relentless Effort. The 'spire' part is like the top of a church tower—you're looking up towards a high point.
Conceptual Metaphor
AMBITION IS UPWARD MOVEMENT / A JOURNEY TOWARDS A HIGH PLACE (e.g., 'climb the ladder', 'reach for the stars', 'aim high').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'вдохновлять' (to inspire). 'Aspire' is 'стремиться', 'мечтать'. 'I aspire to be like her' = 'Я стремлюсь быть таким, как она.', not 'Я вдохновляю её.'
- Avoid using with a direct object without a preposition. Incorrect: 'He aspires a promotion.' Correct: 'He aspires to a promotion/to get a promotion.'
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'aspire for being' (use 'aspire to be').
- Using it for trivial desires: 'I aspire to have a cup of coffee.' (use 'I'd like' or 'I want').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'aspire' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Most commonly by 'to' + noun or infinitive ('aspire to greatness', 'aspire to become'). 'For' is less common but possible with a noun ('aspire for peace'). Never use 'for' with a verb.
The main noun is 'aspiration'. An 'aspirant' is a person who aspires to something.
Yes, but it's not very common as it describes a state. Simple tenses are more frequent (e.g., 'I aspire' vs. 'I am aspiring').
'Aspire' implies a lofty, ambitious goal requiring effort. 'Desire' is broader and can be for anything, from a mundane object to a profound wish. You might desire a biscuit, but you wouldn't *aspire* to one.