Word
inspirational
Phoneticsin·spi·ra·tional
US/ˌɪnspɝˈeɪʃənəɫ/
UK/ˌɪnspəɹˈeɪʃənəl/
Definitions
01motivating or uplifting
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. making you feel full of hope or giving you the energy to do something great.
adj. providing or showing creative or spiritual inspiration; having the quality of motivating others toward positive action or thought.
“The coach gave an inspirational speech that made the team believe they could win.”
“Her journey from a small village to a world-renowned scientist is truly inspirational for young students everywhere.”
Usage
Often used to describe speeches, leaders, or life stories.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02uplifting media
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Formal
n. a book, article, or video that is made to make people feel positive and motivated.
n. a work of literature or media specifically intended to provide spiritual or emotional encouragement.
“She spends her mornings reading inspirationals to start the day with a positive mind.”
“The library maintains a separate section for inspirationals, ranging from religious texts to modern motivational essays.”
Teaching tip
The noun form is much less common than the adjective; learners should focus on the adjective use first.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“My mother, Sheila Cross, who has died aged 82 from cancer, was an inspirational university careers adviser, while also working as a social studies tutor at the Open University (OU) for 36 years.” “It’s true that there are diverse modern works by inspirational women on the lists of the four exam boards – Kit de Waal, Tanika Gupta, Jeanette Winterson, Malorie Blackman are all offered.” Etymology
From inspiration + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/inspirational