aspiration
noun
as·pi·ra·tion ˌa-spə-ˈrā-shən 
1
a
: a strong desire to achieve something high or great
an aspiration to become famous
—usually plural a young man with political/literary aspirations
b
: an object of such desire
An acting career is her aspiration.
2
: a drawing of something in, out, up, or through by or as if by suction: such as
a
: the act of breathing and especially of breathing in
b
: the withdrawal (as by suction) of fluid or tissue from the body
the aspiration of stomach fluids
c
: the taking of foreign matter into the lungs with the respiratory current
problems caused by the aspiration of fluids into the patient's lungs
3
linguistics
a
: audible breath that accompanies or comprises a speech sound
b
: the pronunciation or addition of an aspiration
the aspiration of the letter "h" in "a house"
also : the symbol of an aspiration
Synonyms
- ambition
- ambitiousness
- go-getting
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web People that might not otherwise have considered using AI as part of the SDG's aspiration are suddenly eye opened to the subject. 
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 The two employees at Planned Parenthood practicing on papayas are part of the first wave of advanced practitioners in Connecticut now learning to perform aspiration abortions. Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2022 To say he’d died of probable aspiration was one thing. Eric Boodman, STAT, 12 July 2022 Vacuum aspiration abortions involve the removal of content from the uterus through suction and are usually performed during the first trimester or early in the second. Sarah Swetlik | Sswetlik@al.com, al, 6 July 2022 Dennis Burke is a big burly presence with flashing eyes under bushy eyebrows, a man of obvious personal force, intellectual aspiration, and famously deft hands. BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 Such a combination of aspiration and anxiety can be explosive. Michael Beckley, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 Enzo Ferrari: his name became a boast, an aspiration, and ultimately legend. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 July 2022 The statements achieve both inclusive aspiration and clear differentiation. Gregory Crawford, Forbes, 3 May 2022 See More
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 The two employees at Planned Parenthood practicing on papayas are part of the first wave of advanced practitioners in Connecticut now learning to perform aspiration abortions. Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2022 To say he’d died of probable aspiration was one thing. Eric Boodman, STAT, 12 July 2022 Vacuum aspiration abortions involve the removal of content from the uterus through suction and are usually performed during the first trimester or early in the second. Sarah Swetlik | Sswetlik@al.com, al, 6 July 2022 Dennis Burke is a big burly presence with flashing eyes under bushy eyebrows, a man of obvious personal force, intellectual aspiration, and famously deft hands. BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 Such a combination of aspiration and anxiety can be explosive. Michael Beckley, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 Enzo Ferrari: his name became a boast, an aspiration, and ultimately legend. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 July 2022 The statements achieve both inclusive aspiration and clear differentiation. Gregory Crawford, Forbes, 3 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Kids Definition
aspiration
noun
as·pi·ra·tion ˌa-spə-ˈrā-shən
1
: a strong desire to achieve something
She left home with aspirations for a better life.
2
: something that one wants very much to achieve
Fame has always been his aspiration.
Medical Definition
aspiration
noun
as·pi·ra·tion ˌas-pə-ˈrā-shən
: a drawing of something in, out, up, or through by or as if by suction: as
a
: the act of breathing and especially of breathing in
b
: the withdrawal of fluid or friable tissue from the body
c
: the taking of foreign matter into the lungs with the respiratory current
aspiration
noun
1
as in ambition
eager desire for personal advancement a combination of aspiration and hard work made her the top tennis player in the state Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ambition
- determination
- ambitiousness
- motivation
- opportunism
- initiative
- energy
- greed
- competitiveness
- passion
- industry
- go-getting
- push
- aggression
- enterprise
- diligence
- spirit
- hustle
- drive
- go
- eagerness
- daring
- avarice
- assertiveness
- pretentiousness
- hunger
- avidity
- killer instinct
- ardor
- keenness
- pushiness
- overambitiousness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indifference
- apathy
- inertia
- unconcern
- lethargy
- indolence
- laziness
- halfheartedness
- idleness
- shiftlessness
- sloth
2
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish college is his immediate aspiration after he graduates from high school Synonyms & Similar Words
- goal
- purpose
- ambition
- aim
- intention
- plan
- dream
- intent
- objective
- idea
- object
- thing
- meaning
- ideal
- target
- design
- point
- end
- pretension
- bourne
- desire
- project
- mark
- name of the game
- hope
- bourn
- wish
- scheme
- mind
- destination
- grail
- plot
- holy grail
- nirvana
- terminus
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- way
- means
- method
Synonym Chooser
The words ambition and pretension are common synonyms of aspiration. While all three words mean "strong desire for advancement," aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.
an aspiration to become president someday
Although the words ambition and aspiration have much in common, ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.
driven by ambition
While in some cases nearly identical to aspiration, pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.
has literary pretensions