Meaning & use
inspiration
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
A sudden feeling of enthusiasm or a new idea that makes you want to create something.
Grammar: Often with strike or find: inspiration struck.
Patterns
- draw inspiration from something
- find inspiration in something
She found inspiration in the mountains.
Inspiration struck while I was walking.
The poet drew inspiration from childhood.
nouncountable
A person or thing that gives others the wish to act or create.
Grammar: With to: an inspiration to others.
Patterns
- an inspiration to someone
Her courage was an inspiration to us all.
The old building was the inspiration for the novel.
He is a real inspiration.
noununcountablemedicaltechnical
The act of breathing in.
Grammar: Medical sense; opposite of expiration.
Inspiration expands the chest.
The nurse counted each inspiration.
Word forms
| plural | inspirations |
|---|
Common combinations
- draw inspiration
- He draws inspiration from nature.
- a source of inspiration
- Her teacher was a source of inspiration.
- find inspiration
- I couldn't find inspiration.
- sudden inspiration
- A sudden inspiration led to the answer.
Synonyms and how they differ
- motivation
- A reason to act, not necessarily creative.
- stimulus
- Something that triggers a response, more technical.
- muse
- Literary, a person or force that inspires art.
- idea
- Just the thought, without the excitement.
Opposites
Word family
- inspire verb
- to fill with the urge to act
- inspired adjective
- showing creative excellence
- inspirational adjective
- giving inspiration
Commonly confused: inspiration or aspiration?
inspiration vs aspiration
An aspiration is a goal; inspiration is what drives you.
Practice
The painter says she gets her ___ from walks along the coast.
Choose one answer.
Inspiration is the source of creative ideas. Perspiration means sweat.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “inspiration”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.