aspiring

adjective

aspir·​ing ə-ˈspī-riŋ How to pronounce aspiring (audio)
: desiring and working to achieve a particular goal : having aspirations to attain a specified profession, position, etc.
an aspiring actor [=a person who aspires to be and is trying to become an actor]
an aspiring novelist

Examples of aspiring in a Sentence

an aspiring young pianist eager to win the prestigious competition
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And this year, for the first time, the city offered aspiring lifeguards the opportunity to practice for the test with a swim instructor before trying out. Alyce McFadden, New York Times, 25 May 2025 The two aspiring entrepreneurs hit the ground running on their venture. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025 Several award-winning musicians auditioned — and were rejected from — NBC's 'The Voice' early in their careers 12 Comments The Voice has long been a launching pad for several aspiring musicians — but some of the industry's biggest names were rejected from the show. Jordana Comiter, People.com, 12 May 2025 Born in Nicaragua and raised in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, Ramirez had scored an early film-producing credit (Public Figure, an independent documentary about social media featuring Rose McGowan) and had been the subject of a photo spread on Vanity Teen, a website highlighting aspiring models. Ben Widdicombe, Vulture, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for aspiring

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aspiring was in 1788

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Cite this Entry

“Aspiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aspiring. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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