Expire vs. Inspire — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 16, 2024
Expire means to come to an end or die, while inspire means to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something creative or beneficial.
Difference Between Expire and Inspire
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Expire refers to the cessation or termination of something, often indicating the end of a validity period, life, or function. For instance, a driver's license can expire after a certain period. Inspire, on the other hand, involves stimulating someone to act or feel creatively, often through encouragement or influence.
Expire can be used in contexts where something's duration has concluded, such as food items that are no longer safe to consume past their expiration date. Inspire is used to describe the act of motivating or evoking a positive response, such as a teacher inspiring students to achieve their best.
In terms of emotional impact, expire often has a negative connotation due to its association with endings or death. In contrast, inspire carries a positive connotation, linked to uplifting, motivating, and fostering creativity.
Legally, expire can mean the end of a contract or legal document's validity, affecting rights or permissions. Inspire has no such legal implications but rather pertains to personal and emotional influence, often seen in artistic, educational, or leadership contexts.
Medically, expire refers to the cessation of breathing or life, a term used in clinical and healthcare settings. Inspire in a medical context refers to inhaling, but more commonly, it's used figuratively to describe encouraging and motivating actions.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
To come to an end or cease to be valid
To fill with the urge or ability to do or feel something
Emotional Impact
Negative, associated with endings or death
Positive, associated with motivation and creativity
Legal Context
End of validity for contracts or documents
Not applicable
Medical Context
Cease breathing or die
Breathe in (less common usage)
Common Usage
End of validity, termination, death
Motivation, encouragement, creativity
Compare with Definitions
Expire
To die.
The patient sadly expired during the night.
Inspire
To breathe in (less common usage).
She inspired deeply, filling her lungs with fresh air.
Expire
To come to an end.
My passport will expire next year, so I need to renew it soon.
Inspire
To influence or have an impact.
His courage in adversity inspired many in the community.
Expire
To cease to be valid.
The coupon has expired, and I can no longer use it for a discount.
Inspire
To spark an idea or action.
The groundbreaking research inspired new innovations in the field.
Expire
Expire was an American hardcore punk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, active from 2009 to 2017. They were signed to Bridge 9 Records.
Inspire
To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
Expire
To come to an end; terminate
My membership in the club has expired.
Inspire
To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion
Hymns that inspire the congregation.
An artist who was inspired by Impressionism.
Expire
To breathe one's last breath; die
The patient expired early this morning.
Inspire
To stimulate to action; motivate
A sales force that was inspired by the prospect of a bonus.
Expire
To exhale; breathe out.
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).
Expire
To breathe (something) out.
Inspire
To cause someone to have (a feeling or reaction); elicit or arouse
A teacher who inspired admiration and respect.
Expire
(Archaic) To give (something) off.
Inspire
To be the cause or source of; bring about
An invention that inspired many imitations.
Expire
(intransitive) To die.
The patient expired in hospital.
Inspire
To draw in (air) by inhaling.
Expire
(intransitive) To lapse and become invalid.
My library card will expire next week.
Inspire
To breathe on.
Expire
(intransitive) To come to an end; to conclude.
Inspire
To breathe life into.
Expire
(ambitransitive) To exhale; to breathe out.
Inspire
To stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence
A leader who inspires by example.
Expire
(transitive) To give forth insensibly or gently, as a fluid or vapour; to emit in minute particles.
Inspire
To inhale.
Expire
(transitive) To bring to a close; to terminate.
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.
Expire
To breathe out; to emit from the lungs; to throw out from the mouth or nostrils in the process of respiration; - opposed to inspire.
Anatomy exhibits the lungs in a continual motion of inspiring and expiring air.
This chafed the boar; his nostrils flames expire.
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.
Expire
To give forth insensibly or gently, as a fluid or vapor; to emit in minute particles; to exhale; as, the earth expires a damp vapor; plants expire odors.
The expiring of cold out of the inward parts of the earth in winter.
Inspire
(intransitive) To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale.
Expire
To emit; to give out.
Inspire
To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
Expire
To bring to a close; to terminate.
Expire the termOf a despised life.
Inspire
To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
Expire
To emit the breath.
Inspire
(transitive) To spread rumour indirectly.
Expire
To emit the last breath; to breathe out the life; to die; as, to expire calmly; to expire in agony.
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.
Expire
To come to an end; to cease; to terminate; to perish; to become extinct; as, the flame expired; his lease expires to-day; the month expired on Saturday.
Inspire
To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul.
Expire
To burst forth; to fly out with a blast.
Inspire
To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; - opposed to expire.
Forced to inspire and expire the air with difficulty.
Expire
Lose validity;
My passports expired last month
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.
Expire
Pass from physical life and lose all all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life;
She died from cancer
They children perished in the fire
The patient went peacefully
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.
Expire
Expel air;
Exhale when you lift the weight
Inspire
To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; - opposed to expire.
Expire
To breathe out.
She took a deep breath and slowly expired the air.
Inspire
To breathe; to blow gently.
And when the wind amongst them did inspire,They wavèd like a penon wide dispread.
Expire
To conclude or finish.
The lease on the apartment will expire in June.
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 stimulate or motivate.
The teacher's dedication inspired her students to pursue higher education.
Inspire
To fill someone with the urge to do something creative.
The beautiful landscape inspired the artist to paint.
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to expire?
Expire means to come to an end, cease to be valid, or die.
Can a license expire?
Yes, licenses have expiration dates after which they are no longer valid.
What does it mean to inspire?
Inspire means to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something creative or beneficial.
What is the emotional impact of something expiring?
Expiring usually has a negative connotation, indicating an end or loss.
What happens when food expires?
Expired food can become unsafe to eat and should be discarded.
In what contexts is the term expire commonly used?
Expire is commonly used in contexts of validity (e.g., documents, licenses), life (e.g., death), and time periods.
Can a person be inspired by nature?
Yes, nature often inspires people to create art, write, or engage in conservation efforts.
How can a leader inspire their team?
A leader can inspire their team through encouragement, setting a positive example, and providing a clear vision.
What is the emotional impact of being inspired?
Being inspired typically has a positive connotation, suggesting motivation and upliftment.
What should you do when a product expires?
When a product expires, you should dispose of it properly, especially if it is food or medication.
In what contexts is the term inspire commonly used?
Inspire is commonly used in contexts of creativity, motivation, influence, and personal growth.
What is an example of someone being inspired?
An example is a writer inspired by a historical event to write a novel.
How can art inspire people?
Art can evoke emotions, provoke thought, and motivate individuals to take action or see the world differently.
What does it mean for a contract to expire?
When a contract expires, it means the agreement has reached its end date and is no longer in effect.
Is expiring always negative?
While often negative, expiring can also be neutral, such as a subscription ending, prompting renewal.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Amazement vs. Amusement
Next Comparison
Boxing vs. PrizefightingAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited 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.
