inspire

Meaning

  1. (transitive) To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration.
  2. (transitive) To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence; to fill with what animates, enlivens or exalts; to communicate inspiration to.
  3. (intransitive) To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale.
  4. To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
  5. (archaic, transitive) To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
  6. (transitive) To spread rumour indirectly.

Synonyms

encourage
C1
excite
C2
arouse
C2
cheer
B2
stimulate
C2
rouse
23k
motivate
C2
urge
C1
prompt
C2
animate
41k
cause
A1
inhale
C2
suggest
B1
fire
A1
🔥

give hope

urge on
infuse
42k
support
A2
barrack
33k
enthuse
hearten
create
B1
breathe in
pep up
spur on
enliven
instigate
36k
invigorate
exhort

breathe into

exalt

fill with enthusiasm

stir up
spur
C2
revolutionize
31k
strengthen
C2
persuade
C1

blow into

move
A1
make
A1
engender
provoke
C1
awaken
C2
elate
change
A1
cherish
C1
incite
26k
influence
B2
activate
C1
kindle
37k
Translations

inspirer
inspirar
ispirare
inspirieren
inspireren
bezielen
inboezemen
inspirar
begeistern

εμπνέω

inspirar
inciter
inspirare
animar
eingeben
Frequency

C1
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ɪn.ˈspaɪɹ/
Etymology

Inherited from Middle English
inspiren
In summary

From Middle English inspiren, enspiren, from Old French inspirer, variant of espirer, from Latin īnspīrāre (“inspire”), itself a loan-translation of Biblical Ancient Greek πνέω (pnéō, “breathe”), from in + spīrō (“breathe”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peys- (“to blow, breathe”). Displaced native Old English onbryrdan (literally “to prick in”).

Improve your pronunciation

Notes

Sign in to write sticky notes
English