Definition of ASPIRATIONS (original) (raw)

: a strong desire to achieve something high or great

an aspiration to become famous

—usually plural

a young man with political/literary aspirations

: an object of such desire

An acting career is her aspiration.

: a drawing of something in, out, up, or through by or as if by suction: such as

: the act of breathing and especially of breathing in

: the withdrawal (as by suction) of fluid or tissue from the body

the aspiration of stomach fluids

: the taking of foreign matter into the lungs with the respiratory current

problems caused by the aspiration of fluids into the patient's lungs

linguistics

: audible breath that accompanies or comprises a speech sound

: the pronunciation or addition of an aspiration

the aspiration of the letter "h" in "a house"

also : the symbol of an aspiration

Synonyms

Choose the Right Synonym for aspiration

ambition, aspiration, pretension mean strong desire for advancement.

ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.

aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.

an aspiration to become president someday

pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.

Examples of aspiration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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To reach it, Trump would have to find a path through a political minefield of competing Israeli and Palestinian interests and aspirations, reverse his own first-term policies, and risk alienating his domestic political base. —Peter L. Hahn / Made By History, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025 Many other teams were interested in trading for Valančiūnas, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and other top teams who have title aspirations. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025 While the master plan for St. James Park has loftier aspirations for turning the park into a landmark destination, including a price tag that could exceed $70 million, San Jose opted to chip away at it through multiple phases. —Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025 The beginning of the year is often a time for resolutions and aspirations. —Sky Beard, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for aspiration