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inspiration

n.
US //ˌɪnspɝˈeɪʃən// UK //ˌɪnspəɹˈeɪʃən// in·spi·ra·tion
  1. 1 a person or thing that inspires (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a person, place, or thing that gives you new and exciting ideas.

    a person or thing that serves as a source of creative or intellectual stimulation.

    Example

    My grandmother was a huge inspiration to me when I was learning to paint.

    Example

    The rugged coastline of Cornwall served as a primary inspiration for the novelist's most celebrated works of historical fiction.

    Usage

    Countable in this sense.
  2. 2 a sudden bright idea (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a sudden good idea that comes to you.

    a sudden brilliant or timely idea that arises without apparent effort.

    Example

    In a sudden flash of inspiration, she realized how to fix the broken engine.

    Example

    The solution to the complex mathematical proof came to him in a sudden moment of inspiration while he was walking through the park.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'a flash of inspiration'.
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  1. 3 divine influence (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Religion

    a special power from God that helps people understand or write religious truths.

    a divine influence believed to be exerted on the mind or soul of a person, especially a prophet or writer.

    Example

    Many people believe the ancient texts were written under divine inspiration.

    Example

    Theologians debated whether the scripture was a product of direct divine inspiration or a human interpretation of spiritual experiences.
  2. 4 breathing in (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    the act of breathing air into your lungs.

    the physiological act of drawing air into the lungs; inhalation.

    Example

    The doctor asked the patient to hold their breath after a deep inspiration.

    Example

    The patient's inspiration was shallow and labored, suggesting a potential obstruction in the upper respiratory tract.

    Usage

    The opposite of expiration in a medical context.
Origin

From Middle English inspiracioun, from Old French inspiration, from Late Latin īnspīrātiōnem (nominative: īnspīrātiō), from Latin īnspīrātus (past participle of inspīrō). By surface analysis, inspire + -ation. Displaced native Old English onbryrdnes (literally “in-pricked-ness”).

Word family

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