Meaning & use
inspire to be inspired
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
To cause someone to feel the desire or courage to do something, especially something creative or ambitious.
Grammar: Use it when one person or thing gives another person the urge to act or create; the second person is often mentioned with 'by'.
Patterns
- inspire someone to do something
- be inspired by someone
- inspire someone to be inspired
Her teacher's enthusiasm inspired her to be inspired by science and to study it at university.
The documentary inspired viewers to be inspired by ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Good leaders inspire their teams to be inspired by the company's mission, not just by money.
phrasefixed phrase
To be filled with a strong feeling of enthusiasm or creativity because of someone or something.
Grammar: This passive form focuses on the person who receives the feeling, often followed by 'by' to name the source.
Patterns
- be inspired by something
- be inspired to do something
After the concert, I was inspired to be inspired by music again and started playing the piano.
She was inspired by her grandmother's stories to be inspired to write a novel.
Many young athletes are inspired to be inspired by their heroes and train harder.
Common combinations
- inspire someone to do something
- The coach inspired the players to give their best.
- be inspired by
- The design was inspired by nature.
- inspire confidence
- A calm voice can inspire confidence in a crisis.
- inspire awe
- The mountain range inspires awe in every visitor.
- inspire creativity
- A change of scenery can inspire creativity.
Synonyms and how they differ
- motivate
- Motivate often suggests giving a reason or reward for doing something, while inspire suggests a deeper emotional or imaginative effect.
- encourage
- Encourage means giving support or confidence; inspire is stronger and often implies a sudden, uplifting idea or feeling.
- stimulate
- Stimulate means to make something more active or alert, often mentally; inspire often carries a sense of purpose or vision.
Opposites
Word family
- inspiration noun
- The feeling or idea that makes you want to do something creative.
- inspiring adjective
- Something that makes you feel enthusiastic and eager to act.
- inspired adjective
- Filled with excitement and good ideas, or produced by such a feeling.
Commonly confused: inspire to be inspired or aspire?
inspire to be inspired vs aspire
Aspire means to have a strong desire to achieve something, while inspire means to give someone that desire.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'inspire to be inspired' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The pattern is 'inspire someone to do something' or 'be inspired by something'. Option B correctly shows the painting causing her to feel inspired to paint. Option A uses 'inspired' without an object, which is wrong here; option C reverses the source and the person; option D makes the painting the object of inspiration, which is illogical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “inspire to be inspired”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.