inspire Hear it!

inspire Definition

in·spire (in spīr′)

transitive verb -·spired′, -·spir′·ing

  1. Obsolete
    1. to breathe or blow upon or into
    2. to infuse (life, etc. into) by breathing
  2. to draw (air) into the lungs; inhale
  3. to have an animating effect upon; influence or impel; esp., to stimulate or impel to some creative or effective effort
  4. to cause, guide, communicate, or motivate as by divine or supernatural influence
  5. to arouse or produce (a thought or feeling) kindness inspires love
  6. to affect with a specified feeling or thought to inspire someone with fear
  7. to occasion, cause, or produce
  8. to prompt, or cause to be written or said, by influence to inspire a rumor

Etymology: ME inspiren < OFr inspirer < L inspirare < in-, in, on + spirare, to breathe: see spirit

intransitive verb

  1. to inhale
  2. to give inspiration

inspire Related Forms
in·spir′·able adjective in·spir′er noun
inspire Synonyms

inspire

v.

  1. To encourage

    inspirit, invigorate, spur, animate; see encourage 2, incite.

  2. To stimulate to creative activity

    fire, spark, stimulate, rouse, kindle, quicken, be the cause of, start off, put one in the mood, set aglow, give one the idea for, motivate, touch the imagination, give an impetus; see also cause 2, excite 1, urge 2.

inspire Usage Examples

Object

  • confidence: This hardly inspires confidence in anything that she says on the matter.
  • generation: They will hopefully inspire a new generation of women who are embarking on their careers to go to the very top.
  • imagination: The stimulating activities are guaranteed to boost the confidence and inspire the imagination of even the most reluctant reader.
  • loyalty: Promotes feelings of peace and tranquility. , inspires loyalty and romantic love.
  • creativity: The simple premise of the course is to inspire creativity by taking groups to the riverbank to draw.
  • poem: Some of the children chose to write poems inspired by the older peoples ' memories.

Subject

  • likes: He was musically inspired by the likes of Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin ' Wolf and also Wilson Pickett.
  • landscape: This heralded a change in her style inspired by desert landscapes.
  • myth: Throughout history, artists have been inspired by myths and legends and have given them visual form.
  • spirit: In this fundamental sense Paul is the apostle of Christ and one inspired by the Spirit.
  • nature: Nature in Art provides the venue and a world class collection of art inspired by nature.

Modifying Another Word

  • divinely: He believed that the Greek translation of the Old Testament ( the Septuagint, dating from the third century BC ) was divinely inspired.
  • biologically: Abstract The field of biologically inspired computing has generated many novel, interesting and useful computational systems.

Preposition: by

  • likes: He was musically inspired by the likes of Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin ' Wolf and also Wilson Pickett.
  • landscape: This heralded a change in her style inspired by desert landscapes.
  • myth: Throughout history, artists have been inspired by myths and legends and have given them visual form.
  • poem: The objective is for stitchers to produce textile art pieces inspired by poems, principally those published by PitWR.
  • spirit: In this fundamental sense Paul is the apostle of Christ and one inspired by the Spirit.
  • nature: Nature in Art provides the venue and a world class collection of art inspired by nature.

Adjective complement

  • exciting: Each one helps to enhance families' reading experiences with the classic Dr. Seuss books and inspire exciting, original new story lines.
inspire Quotes

Poets are the hierophants of an unapprehended inspiration; the mirrors of the gigantic shadows which futuritycastsuponthepresent; thewordswhichexpress what they understand not; the trumpets which sing to battle, and feel not what they inspire; the influence which is moved not, but moves. Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe

His stately ship of life, having weathered the severest storms of a troubled century, is anchored in tranquil waters, proofthatcourageand faith and zest for freedom are truly indestructible. The record of his triumphant passage will inspire free hearts all over the globe.

—Kennedy,John F(itzgerald)

Yes,Iama fatal man,Madame Fribsbi.Toinspirehopeless passion is my destiny.

—Thackeray,William Makepeace

Books and the Man I sing, the first who brings The Smithfield Muses to the Ear of Kings. Say great Patricians! (since your selves inspire These wond'rous works; so Jove and Fate require) Say from what cause, in vain decry'd and curst, Still Dunce the second reigns like Dunce the first?

—Pope, Alexander