inspire

[in-spahyuh r] /ɪnˈspaɪər/
verb (used with object), inspired, inspiring.
1.
to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence:
His courage inspired his followers.
2.
to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.):
to inspire confidence in others.
3.
to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.:
to inspire a person with distrust.
4.
to influence or impel:
Competition inspired her to greater efforts.
5.
to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does:
They were inspired by a belief in a better future.
6.
to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence:
writings inspired by God.
7.
to guide or control by divine influence.
8.
to prompt or instigate (utterances, acts, etc.) by influence, without avowal of responsibility.
9.
to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc.:
a philosophy that inspired a revolution.
10.
to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing; inhale.
11.
Archaic.
  1. to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually followed by into).
  2. to breathe into or upon.
verb (used without object), inspired, inspiring.
12.
to give inspiration.
13.
to inhale.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English inspiren < Latin inspīrāre to breathe upon or into, equivalent to in- in-2 + spīrāre to breathe
Related forms
inspirative
[in-spahyuh r-uh-tiv, in-spi-rey-tiv] /ɪnˈspaɪər ə tɪv, ˈɪn spɪˌreɪ tɪv/ (Show IPA), adjective
inspirer, noun
inspiringly, adverb
preinspire, verb (used with object), preinspired, preinspiring.
pseudoinspiring, adjective
reinspire, verb, reinspired, reinspiring.
uninspiring, adjective
uninspiringly, adverb
Examples from the web for inspire
  • It was the highest-grossing film of the year, and helped inspire an entire genre of movies about aviation.
  • Few creatures inspire such a queasy mixture of fear, disgust and disdain.
  • Some readers missed part of the point, to inspire dialogue and curiosity.
  • There's also the human-to-human connection with bookmobile librarians, who steer and inspire their visitors' reading patterns.
  • If a picture is worth a thousand words, digital satellite imagery could inspire tomes' worth of new environmental policies.
  • Fish tend to inspire exaggerated tales, as anglers know all too well.
  • inspire kids with educational videos about animals and geography, and with engaging games and toys.
  • Daydreaming can inspire us and help us be more creative.
  • Or maybe the info will inspire you to start taking better care of yourself.
  • We did it to inspire the world to turn into the tough problems, not to turn away from them.
British Dictionary definitions for inspire

inspire

/ɪnˈspaɪə/
verb
1.
to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon (a person); animate or invigorate
2.
(transitive; foll by with or to; may take an infinitive) to arouse (with a particular emotion or to a particular action); stir
3.
(transitive) to prompt or instigate; give rise to: her beauty inspired his love
4.
(transitive; often passive) to guide or arouse by divine influence or inspiration
5.
to take or draw (air, gas, etc) into the lungs; inhale
6.
(transitive) (archaic)
  1. to breathe into or upon
  2. to breathe life into
Derived Forms
inspirable, adjective
inspirative, adjective
inspirer, noun
inspiringly, adverb
Word Origin
C14 (in the sense: to breathe upon, blow into): from Latin inspīrāre, from spīrāre to breathe
Word Origin and History for 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.

inspire in Medicine

inspire in·spire (ĭn-spīr')
v. in·spired, in·spir·ing, in·spires
To draw in breath; to inhale.