aspiring

1 of 2

adjective

aspir·​ing ə-ˈspī-riŋ How to pronounce aspiring (audio)
Synonyms of aspiring
: desiring and working to achieve a particular goal : having aspirations to attain a specified profession, position, etc.
an aspiring actor [=a person who aspires to be and is trying to become an actor]
an aspiring novelist

aspiring

2 of 2

present participle of aspire

Synonyms of aspiring

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Adjective

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Examples of aspiring in a Sentence

Adjective an aspiring young pianist eager to win the prestigious competition
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Adjective
Police officers arrested a Libertarian candidate for the North Carolina Senate on Monday after an hourslong armed standoff with the aspiring politician. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026 In more recent years, the go-to option for an aspiring writer has been starting a newsletter of her own, often on Substack, a digital platform that launched in 2017 to allow writers to charge money for their writing. — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Over the next two decades, the aspiring author took on just two short-term jobs. — Robert S. Levine, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026 In War, for example, Morgan Henderson does indeed cheat on his wife with a 20-something aspiring actress. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aspiring

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1788, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aspiring was in 1788

Rhymes for aspiring

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Browse Nearby Words

aspirin
aspiring
Aspis
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Cite this Entry

“Aspiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aspiring. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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