inspire

inspire — verb

1. to fill someone with the desire and confidence to do something, especially somet

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to fill someone with the desire and confidence to do something, especially something difficult or creative

Example

Her teacher's words inspired Hyun to study harder for the final exam.

inspire + person + to-infinitive

What inspired Hugo to leave his job and start his own bakery?

question form: What + inspire + person + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • inspire someone to do something
  • be inspired by
  • inspire confidence
Synonyms
  • motivate

    more practical; focuses on reasons to act rather than emotional uplift

  • encourage

    implies direct support from another person; less about sparking new ambition

  • stimulate

    more intellectual; about provoking thought rather than emotion

Antonyms
  • discourage

    makes someone lose confidence or desire to act

  • deter

    makes someone decide not to do something through fear or doubt

Grammar Patterns

inspire + person + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Frequently followed by an object plus a to-infinitive. The subject is often a person's example, a story, or an event rather than direct instruction.

Common Mistakes

The movie inspired me going to Japan.
The movie inspired me to go to Japan.
'inspire' requires an object followed by a to-infinitive, not a gerund.

2. to cause a particular strong emotion to appear in someone — for example, inspiri

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to cause a particular strong emotion to appear in someone — for example, inspiring fear in a crowd, or inspiring hope in a community hit by disaster

Example

The mayor's speech inspired hope in the town after the earthquake.

inspire + emotion + in + person/group

His constant lies inspired deep suspicion among his colleagues.

Common collocations
  • inspire hope
  • inspire fear
  • inspire confidence
  • inspire trust
  • inspire respect
Synonyms
  • arouse

    more formal; used for both positive and negative emotions

  • evoke

    more subtle; often about memories, images, or atmosphere

  • provoke

    usually negative; implies a strong, often angry reaction

Antonyms
  • suppress

    to keep a feeling from appearing or being expressed

  • dampen

    to make a feeling less strong or intense

Grammar Patterns

inspire + emotion + in + person

inspire + emotion + among + group

Usage Note

The direct object is always an emotion noun (hope, fear, trust, confidence, respect), never a person. To name the person affected, use 'in + person' or 'among + group.' Distinguish from sense 1, where the object is a person and the result is an action.

Common Mistakes

The speech inspired me hope.
The speech inspired hope in me.
the emotion is the object; the person is introduced by 'in.'

3. to produce a sudden creative idea in someone's mind, leading them to write, pain

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to produce a sudden creative idea in someone's mind, leading them to write, paint, design, or invent something new

Example

A trip to the mountains inspired Christopher's first novel.

inspire + creative work (direct object)

The traditional village dance inspired the choreographer to create a new performance.

Common collocations
  • inspired by nature
  • inspired by real events
  • inspired by a dream
  • inspire a painting
  • inspire a song
Synonyms
  • influence

    broader and less sudden; can be indirect or gradual

  • spark

    more informal; suggests a sudden, brief moment of inspiration

  • stimulate

    more about intellectual process than creative breakthrough

Antonyms
  • stifle

    to prevent creative ideas from developing

Grammar Patterns

inspire + creative work

inspire + person + to + verb

Usage Note

Common in discussions of art, design, and invention. Unlike sense 1, the focus is on where an idea comes from, not on motivating someone to take a difficult action.

Common Mistakes

Her travels inspired to her writing a novel.
Her travels inspired her to write a novel.
the object ('her') must directly follow the verb.

4. to take air into your lungs

4.verbtransitive / intransitiveC1
Definition

to take air into your lungs

Example

The doctor told Anthony to inspire deeply before the chest X-ray.

formal medical register: inspire + adverb

Kemi inspired the cool morning air and felt her lungs expand.

Common collocations
  • inspire deeply
  • inspire air
  • inspire through the nose
Synonyms
  • inhale

    the standard everyday term for breathing in

  • breathe in

    the most natural phrasing in conversation; less formal than 'inspire'

Antonyms
  • exhale

    to breathe air out of the lungs

  • expire

    formal term for breathing out; also means 'to die'

Grammar Patterns

inspire + air/breath

inspire (no object)

Usage Note

A technical or formal synonym for 'breathe in.' In everyday conversation, 'breathe in' is far more common. This sense is primarily used in medical, literary, or instructional contexts such as yoga or meditation.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Inspire', 'motivate', 'encourage', and 'stimulate' all involve influencing someone to act or feel differently, but they differ in intensity and source. 'Inspire' suggests a deep, emotional uplift — the person feels a new desire from within, often sparked by someone's example or a powerful story. 'Motivate' is more practical and reason-based: you motivate someone by showing them clear benefits or goals. 'Encourage' is gentler — it means giving active support to someone who may already want to act but needs reassurance. 'Stimulate' is intellectual: it provokes thought or curiosity rather than emotion. For example, a biography of a scientist might inspire a student to pursue research; a bonus system motivates employees to meet targets; a coach encourages a nervous player before a match; and a challenging puzzle stimulates the mind.

motivate ↗encourage ↗stimulate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be inspired by
  • inspire someone with

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'inspirare' (to breathe into), formed from 'in-' (into) and 'spirare' (to breathe). The physical sense of breathing in (sense 4) is the original meaning. Over time, the word took on the figurative meaning of 'to fill someone with a spirit or idea,' as if breathing life into their mind. This figurative use eventually became the core modern meaning, while the breathing sense remained in formal and medical contexts.