Meaning & use
inspiring
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Making you feel excited and eager to do something great or creative.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after linking verbs like be, seem, find: an inspiring teacher; the story was inspiring.
Patterns
- inspiring to someone
- find something inspiring
- an inspiring example
Her speech was so inspiring that I signed up for the volunteer program immediately.
He finds mountain landscapes inspiring and often paints them.
The coach's story is inspiring to young athletes everywhere.
adjectivecomparable
Giving people hope, confidence, or a strong desire to achieve something.
Grammar: Often describes leaders, teachers, or events that motivate others.
Patterns
- an inspiring leader
- inspiring confidence
- inspiring to watch
Nelson Mandela was an inspiring leader who brought people together.
Her recovery was inspiring to everyone in the hospital.
It was inspiring to see the community rebuild after the flood.
Word forms
| comparative | more inspiring |
|---|---|
| superlative | most inspiring |
Common combinations
- truly inspiring
- Her dedication to the project was truly inspiring.
- find something inspiring
- Many artists find the ocean inspiring.
- inspiring story
- The documentary tells an inspiring story of survival.
- inspiring to someone
- His words were inspiring to the whole team.
Synonyms and how they differ
- motivating
- Focuses on giving someone a reason to act; inspiring is broader and often includes emotional or creative effect.
- uplifting
- Suggests making you feel happier or more hopeful; inspiring emphasizes the urge to do something.
- encouraging
- Means giving support or confidence; inspiring is stronger and often implies admiration.
Opposites
Word family
- inspire verb
- To make someone feel eager or able to do something.
- inspiration noun
- A person or thing that gives you ideas or enthusiasm.
- inspired adjective
- Feeling full of ideas or enthusiasm, often because of someone or something else.
Commonly confused: inspiring or inspired?
inspiring vs inspired
Inspired describes the person who feels the effect (I felt inspired), while inspiring describes the person or thing that causes it (She is inspiring).
Practice
The audience left the concert feeling ___.
Choose one answer.
The audience received the effect, so the adjective 'inspired' is correct. 'Inspiring' would describe the concert itself, and 'inspiration' is a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “inspiring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.