# inspiration

/ˌɪnspɝˈeɪʃən/ (US) · /ˌɪnspəɹˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inspiration
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. a person or thing that inspires

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

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

### 3. a sudden bright idea

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden good idea that comes to you.

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

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

### 4. divine influence

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- Many people believe the ancient texts were written under divine inspiration.
- Theologians debated whether the scripture was a product of direct divine inspiration or a human interpretation of spiritual experiences.

### 5. breathing in

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the act of breathing air into your lungs.

For teachers: the physiological act of drawing air into the lungs; inhalation.

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

## Examples

- The beautiful sunset gave the artist the inspiration for her next painting.
- Many young writers find inspiration in the works of classic authors, using those old stories to spark their own modern ideas.
- While some believe that creative genius is purely innate, most professionals argue that consistent work is what eventually invites the inspiration necessary to complete a masterpiece.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.