Aspiration — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌa-spə-ˈrā-shən/ as·pi·ra·tion

Meaning & Definition of Aspiration

Aspiration (noun)

  1. a strong desire to achieve something high or great —usually plural
  2. an object of such desire
  3. a drawing of something in, out, up, or through by or as if by suction

Aspiration (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. eager desire for personal advancement

    "a combination of aspiration and hard work made her the top tennis player in the state"

    similar: ambition, ambitiousness, go-getting
    related: determination, diligence, drive, energy, enterprise, go, hustle, industry, initiative, motivation, push, aggression, competitiveness, killer instinct, opportunism, overambitiousness, pretentiousness, pushiness, assertiveness, daring, spirit, ardor, avidity, eagerness, keenness, passion, avarice, greed, hunger
    near: apathy, halfheartedness, indifference, unconcern, idleness, indolence, inertia, laziness, lethargy, shiftlessness, sloth

  2. something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

    "college is his immediate aspiration after he graduates from high school"

    similar: aim, ambition, bourne, design, dream, end, goal, idea, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing, name of the game
    related: grail, holy grail, plot, project, scheme, desire, hope, mind, wish, nirvana, destination, terminus
    near: means, method, way

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Aspiration

The most common words with a similar meaning to Aspiration:

ambition, ambitiousness, go-getting, aim, bourne, design, dream, end, goal, idea, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing, name of the game

Related Words for Aspiration

determination, diligence, drive, energy, enterprise, go, hustle, industry, initiative, motivation, push, aggression, competitiveness, killer instinct, opportunism, overambitiousness, pretentiousness, pushiness, assertiveness, daring, spirit, ardor, avidity, eagerness, keenness, passion, avarice, greed, hunger, grail

Near Antonyms of Aspiration

apathy, halfheartedness, indifference, unconcern, idleness, indolence, inertia, laziness, lethargy, shiftlessness, sloth, means, method, way

Origin & Etymology of Aspiration

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Aspiration

Frequently Asked Questions about Aspiration

What does "Aspiration" mean?

"Aspiration" means a strong desire to achieve something high or great —usually plural. As a noun, it is defined as: a strong desire to achieve something high or great —usually plural. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Aspiration"?

Other words for "Aspiration" include ambition, ambitiousness, go-getting, aim, bourne, design, dream and end. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Aspiration" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Aspiration"?

There are 65 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Aspiration". Common alternatives include ambition, ambitiousness, go-getting, aim, bourne, design, dream, end, goal and idea.

How do you use "Aspiration" in a sentence?

Examples of "Aspiration" in a sentence: "a combination of aspiration and hard work made her the top tennis player in the state"; "college is his immediate aspiration after he graduates from high school".

Is "Aspiration" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Aspiration" is a noun.

Is "Aspiration" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Aspiration" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Aspiration"?

"Aspiration" is pronounced /ˌa-spə-ˈrā-shən/ and divided into syllables as as·pi·ra·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Aspiration"?

First known use: 14th century.