Synonyms

aspiring

American

[uh-spahyer-ing] / əˈspaɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

eagerly or ambitiously aiming for a particular career, title, social status, etc.: a team of aspiring gold medalists.

an aspiring composer;
a team of aspiring gold medalists.

Related Words

See ambitious.

Other Word Forms

aspiringly adverb
nonaspiring adjective
unaspiring adjective
unaspiringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of aspiring

First recorded in 1575–1595; aspire ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As a young, aspiring sports writer with a few credits to my name, I am always on the hunt for new words, literary devices or turns-of-phrase that will make my pieces sing.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Our aspiring footballers come from marginalised families, and it is often not possible for them to provide financial support," said Prince, a women's football organiser.

From Barron's

High home prices and elevated mortgage rates kept many aspiring home buyers on the sidelines, and many homeowners from selling their properties, in 2025.

From MarketWatch

"We need energy for Nepal's change," the 49-year-old aspiring prime minister told AFP, saying his candidacy represented a break from decades of rule by a tight-knit and ageing elite.

From Barron's

Most seem to have been aspiring to emulate the musical “Cabaret” rather than the invasion of Poland.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023