aspire to

aspire to — idiom

1. to want very much to achieve something important or reach a high goal in life, s

1.idiomB2
Definition

to want very much to achieve something important or reach a high goal in life, such as a successful career, a special skill, or a better future

Example

Hugo aspires to become a professional musician and play in an orchestra one day.

aspire to + infinitive

The young designer from Seoul aspires to create clothes that are sustainable and affordable.

Common collocations
  • aspire to greatness
  • aspire to perfection
  • aspire to leadership
  • aspire to excellence
  • aspire to a career
Synonyms
  • aim to

    more concrete — suggests a specific plan or target rather than a broad hope

  • hope to

    less ambitious — focuses on desire without necessarily implying effort

  • dream of

    more emotional — often suggests something less realistic or not yet acted upon

  • strive to

    emphasises effort and determination, slightly more formal

Antonyms
  • give up on

    to stop trying to achieve something you previously wanted

Grammar Patterns

aspire to + infinitive

aspire to + noun phrase

Usage Note

Followed by either a to-infinitive (aspire to do/be something) or a noun phrase (aspire to something). Not used with for or without to.

Common Mistakes

I aspire for becoming a doctor.
I aspire to become a doctor.
'aspire' is followed by 'to' (infinitive marker), not 'for'.
She aspires being a leader.
She aspires to be a leader.
You must include 'to' before the verb.

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from the Latin verb 'aspirare', which meant 'to breathe upon' or 'to blow towards'. Over time it developed the sense of 'to long for' or 'to seek after', and entered English in the 16th century carrying the idea of striving towards a high goal.