Aspire vs. Inspire — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 5, 2023
Aspire means to have a strong desire or ambition for something. Inspire means to influence, motivate, or produce a feeling in someone. Both involve goals, but one is inward-driven while the other is outward-impacting.
Difference Between Aspire and Inspire
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Key Differences
Aspire refers to a person's ambition or strong desire to achieve something. It is an internal, personal drive to reach a goal or objective. Inspire, on the other hand, deals with the act of influencing others, motivating them, or instilling a certain feeling or idea.
Aspire is centered on personal growth and goals. When someone aspires to something, they have set their sights on a target, whether it's a career, skill, or achievement. Conversely, inspire is about affecting change or feelings in others. When someone or something inspires you, it ignites a passion, motivation, or new perspective within you.
While to aspire is to look upwards or forwards with hope and ambition, to inspire is to be the catalyst for that upward and forward movement in another person. For example, one might aspire to be a great writer, while reading the works of great authors might inspire one to write.
To sum up, aspire is about personal ambitions and dreams, while inspire revolves around the impact or influence one has on others. Both words deal with motivation and goals but from different perspectives: one being the seeker (aspire) and the other being the source (inspire).
Comparison Chart
Definition
A personal desire or ambition to achieve something
To influence, motivate, or instill a feeling in others
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Focus
Individual goals and ambitions
Influencing or motivating others
Example
Aspiring to a career in medicine
A speech that inspires many to take action
Verb Form Usage
Transitive (often followed by "to")
Transitive and Intransitive
Relation to Others
Inward-driven ambition
Outward-impacting motivation
Compare with Definitions
Aspire
To aim or seek ambitiously.
Many young athletes aspire to compete in the Olympics.
Inspire
To give rise to a particular emotion or action.
The sunset inspired a sense of awe.
Aspire
To have a strong ambition or desire for something.
She aspires to be a successful entrepreneur.
Inspire
To be the creative source for.
She inspired the character in my novel.
Aspire
To set one's hopes or ambitions on achieving something.
They aspire to create a more just society.
Inspire
To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
Aspire
To have a great ambition or ultimate goal; desire strongly
Aspired to be a poet.
Inspire
To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion
Hymns that inspire the congregation.
An artist who was inspired by Impressionism.
Aspire
To strive toward an end or condition
Aspiring to great knowledge.
Inspire
To stimulate to action; motivate
A sales force that was inspired by the prospect of a bonus.
Aspire
(Archaic) To rise high; move upwards.
Inspire
To cause (someone) to have a particular feeling; affect or touch
"At this moment he inspired her with disgust rather than with love" (Anthony Trollope).
Aspire
(intransitive) To have a strong desire or ambition to achieve something.
To aspire to / for / after / to do something; to aspire that something happens
He aspires to become a successful doctor.
We aspire that the world will be a better place.
Inspire
To cause someone to have (a feeling or reaction); elicit or arouse
A teacher who inspired admiration and respect.
Aspire
To go as high as, to reach the top of (something).
Inspire
To be the cause or source of; bring about
An invention that inspired many imitations.
Aspire
To move upward; to be very tall.
Inspire
To draw in (air) by inhaling.
Aspire
To desire with eagerness; to seek to attain something high or great; to pant; to long; - followed by to or after, and rarely by at; as, to aspire to a crown; to aspire after immorality.
Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell;Aspiring to be angels, men rebel.
Inspire
To breathe on.
Aspire
To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar.
My own breath still foments the fire,Which flames as high as fancy can aspire.
Inspire
To breathe life into.
Aspire
To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to.
That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds.
Inspire
To stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence
A leader who inspires by example.
Aspire
Aspiration.
Inspire
To inhale.
Aspire
Have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
Inspire
(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.
Aspire
To direct one's hopes or ambitions towards a specific goal.
He aspires to climb the highest peaks in the world.
Inspire
(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.
Elders should inspire children with sentiments of virtue.
The captain's speech was aimed to inspire her team to victory in the final.
Aspire
To long or aim for, especially at a high level.
She aspires to greatness in her field.
Inspire
(intransitive) To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale.
Inspire
To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
Inspire
To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
Inspire
(transitive) To spread rumour indirectly.
Inspire
To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath,Inspirèd hath in every holt and heathThe tender crops.
Descend, ye Nine, descend and sing,The breathing instruments inspire.
Inspire
To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul.
Inspire
To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; - opposed to expire.
Forced to inspire and expire the air with difficulty.
Inspire
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.
And generous stout courage did inspire.
But dawning day new comfort hath inspired.
Inspire
To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence; to fill with what animates, enlivens, or exalts; to communicate inspiration to; as, to inspire a child with sentiments of virtue; to inspire a person to do extraordinary feats.
Erato, thy poet's mind inspire,And fill his soul with thy celestial fire.
Inspire
To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; - opposed to expire.
Inspire
To breathe; to blow gently.
And when the wind amongst them did inspire,They wavèd like a penon wide dispread.
Inspire
Heighten or intensify;
These paintings exalt the imagination
Inspire
Supply the inspiration for;
The article about the artist inspired the exhibition of his recent work
Inspire
Serve as the inciting cause of;
She prompted me to call my relatives
Inspire
Urge on or encourage especially by shouts;
The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers
Inspire
Fill with revolutionary ideas
Inspire
Draw in (air);
Inhale deeply
Inhale the fresh mountain air
The patient has trouble inspiring
The lung cancer patient cannot inspire air very well
Inspire
To influence or motivate someone.
His bravery inspired others to act.
Inspire
To stimulate or encourage into action.
His words inspired a generation to challenge the status quo.
Inspire
To fill with an animating or exalting influence.
The teacher inspired confidence in her students.
Common Curiosities
Can a person both aspire and inspire at the same time?
Yes, one can aspire to achieve personal goals and inspire others simultaneously.
How does one's aspiration relate to inspiration?
One's aspiration can be fueled by inspiration from external sources.
What's the primary difference between aspire and inspire?
Aspire focuses on personal ambitions, while inspire is about influencing or motivating others.
Can nature inspire or aspire?
Nature can inspire people with its beauty, but it doesn't aspire as it lacks human-like ambitions.
Can inanimate objects aspire?
No, inanimate objects lack ambition and cannot aspire.
Can an event or experience inspire aspiration?
Yes, being inspired by something can lead to new aspirations.
Is aspire a passive action?
No, it's an active desire or ambition toward achieving something.
Can someone aspire without external inspiration?
Yes, internal motivation or desires can drive aspiration without external triggers.
Is it necessary for something to aspire in order to inspire?
No, one can inspire others without personally aspiring to anything specific.
Is there a noun form for aspire?
Yes, it's "aspiration."
What's the noun form of inspire?
It's "inspiration."
Can a speech or book inspire?
Absolutely, many speeches and books have inspired change and action throughout history.
Who or what can inspire?
Almost anything – people, events, art, nature, experiences – can inspire others.
Are aspire and inspire opposites?
No, they are different perspectives on ambition and motivation, but they are not opposites.
Who or what can aspire?
Typically, humans aspire, reflecting their desires and ambitions.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
