inspire
pronunciation
How to pronounce inspire in British English:
UK [ɪnˈspaɪə(r)]
How to pronounce inspire in American English:
US [ɪnˈspaɪər]
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- Verb:
- heighten or intensify
- supply the inspiration for
- serve as the inciting cause of
- urge on or encourage especially by shouts
- fill with revolutionary ideas
- draw in (air)
Word Origin
- inspire
- inspire: see spirit
- inspire (v.)
- mid-14c., enspiren, "to fill (the mind, heart, etc., with grace, etc.);" also "to prompt or induce (someone to do something)," from Old French enspirer (13c.), from Latin inspirare "inflame; blow into" (see inspiration), a loan-translation of Greek pnein in the Bible. General sense of "influence or animate with an idea or purpose" is from late 14c. Also sometimes used in literal sense in Middle English. Related: Inspired; inspires; inspiring.
Antonym
Example
- 1. There is little to inspire in daqing now .
- 2. Unique flash drive will inspire you to cure computer viruses .
- 3. The findings could inspire research into human tissue regeneration .
- 4. Their union is likely to inspire more mergers and takeovers that will increase the industry 's efficiency .
- 5. They must act far more decisively to inspire market confidence in their policies .