Aspires

Aspires is the third-person singular present tense of the verb aspire. It means to have a strong desire to achieve a goal or to strive toward a higher aim. In English, aspires is typically followed by to + infinitive (aspires to be) or by a noun phrase describing the goal (aspires to greatness). The act expresses ambition and forward-looking motivation, rather than a simple wish.

Etymology: aspire comes from Latin aspirare, meaning to breathe upon or to draw in breath, with the figurative sense of drawing in a goal or ideal. The sense of longing or striving developed in Early Modern English and entered standard usage in the 16th century.

Grammar: as a regular verb, it takes -s in the third-person singular: he, she, it aspires. The principal parts are aspire, aspired, aspiring, aspired. It forms a negative with does not aspire.

Usage notes: common in formal and semi-formal writing, including biographies, mission statements, and policy documents; slightly more formal than simple "desires" or "wants."

Related terms: aspiration (noun) meaning a goal or ambition; aspirational (adjective) describing an ideal or a person’s ambitions; aspiring (present participle) used for people who seek to achieve a goal.

Examples: He aspires to become a doctor. The nonprofit aspires to reach underserved communities. The athlete aspires to Olympic competition.