inspire

CEFRB1

/ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To give someone a feeling or idea that encourages action.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale.

Examples

  • Asian religions inspire him to create splendid sculptures.

  • We may give advice, but we do not inspire conduct.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /ɪnˈspɑeə(ɹ)/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. 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. 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. To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.

More examples

In context

  • The president's actions hardly inspire confidence.

  • Elders should inspire children with sentiments of virtue.

  • The captain's speech was aimed to inspire her team to victory in the final.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Her brave speech will blank many students to follow their dreams and work hard.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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”).