[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/inspire/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [I](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/i/) / inspire

# inspire

verb (inspire, inspires, inspired, inspiring)

«inspire» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To inspire someone means to give them the wish and the energy to do something good or creative. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#m1)
2. To inspire a feeling means to make people feel it: «inspire confidence», «inspire fear». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#m2)
3. If something inspired a story, picture or invention, it gave the idea for it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#m3)
4. (science, rare) To inspire means to breathe in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#m4)

### In the lessons

In school it is used for role models, books and trips: «Her talk inspired us to recycle». In art and writing lessons pupils say what inspired their work. In stories heroes inspire others. Related: inspiration, inspiring, inspired. Phrases: «inspire someone to do something», «inspired by».

### Examples

- The astronaut's visit inspired me to study science. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#x1)
- Her bravery inspires us all. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#x2)
- The story was inspired by a real shipwreck. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#x3)
- Good teachers inspire their pupils. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#x4)
- The music inspired her to dance. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#x5)
- The captain's calm voice inspired confidence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#x6)
- What inspired you to write this poem? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: inspired. Noun: inspiration; adjectives: inspiring (gives inspiration), inspired (very clever or creative: «an inspired idea»). Pattern: «inspire someone to do something». Opposite of the breathing sense: expire (breathe out), though «expire» usually means to end.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «inspire» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/inspire/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«inspire» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/inspire.html) on Mova free.