inspired

Inspired is the past participle of the verb inspire and an adjective describing a state of being motivated, guided, or energized by something. The term traces to the Latin inspirare, meaning “to breathe into,” from in- “into” and spirare “to breathe.” Historically, inspiration carried a sense of divine influence granted to humans, especially poets and prophets. In modern usage, inspired can refer to a person’s heightened motivation or to a work that shows originality or influence from a source.

As an adjective, inspired describes people who feel stimulated to create or act, or works that reflect notable influence or quality. As a noun, inspiration denotes the source of ideas or the process of being mentally stimulated to feel or do something. Phrases such as “inspired by nature” or “an inspired performance” indicate the presence of influence or elevated quality. The term is common in art, literature, music, design, education, and public speaking.

Culturally, inspiration is linked to religious or mythological concepts of divine guidance and to the idea of muses in the arts. In psychology and creativity research, inspiration is studied as a motivational state that can involve perceived novelty, possibility, and approach-oriented motivation, often accompanied by a sense of awe and drive to realize ideas. In everyday use, being inspired typically signals a surge of energy or a new outlook that prompts action, such as starting a project, adopting a new approach, or pursuing a goal.