What does "inspire" mean?

1. (to motivate or encourage) to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it. 2. (to give rise to) to be the reason why someone creates a piece of art, a book, or an idea. 3. (to breathe in) to breathe air into your lungs.

How do you use "inspire"?

Often used in the passive voice: 'to be inspired by'. In modern English, 'inhale' is much more common for everyday use; 'inspire' is largely restricted to medical or formal contexts.

Is it correct to say "His speech inspired to me."?

No — say "His speech inspired me.". The verb 'inspire' is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'to'.

inspire

US //ˌɪnˈspaɪɹ// UK //ɪnspˈaɪə// in·spire

1 to motivate or encourage (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it.

to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially something creative or positive.

Example

The teacher's passion for science inspired the students to start their own projects.

Example

The CEO's keynote address was designed to inspire the workforce during a period of significant corporate restructuring.

Usage

Often used in the passive voice: 'to be inspired by'.
- discourage
- dishearten
Pitfall

His speech inspired to me.

His speech inspired me.

The verb 'inspire' is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'to'.
2 to give rise to (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to be the reason why someone creates a piece of art, a book, or an idea.

to serve as the creative or intellectual catalyst for a specific work or idea.

Example

The beautiful landscape inspired her to paint a series of watercolours.

Example

The architect admitted that the jagged peaks of the Alps had inspired the unique geometric roof of the new museum.

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3 to breathe in (v.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

to breathe air into your lungs.

to draw air into the lungs; the physiological act of inhalation.

Example

The doctor asked the patient to inspire deeply while he listened to her chest.

Example

During the respiratory assessment, the patient was instructed to inspire slowly to allow for a clear auscultation of the lower lung lobes.

Usage

In modern English, 'inhale' is much more common for everyday use; 'inspire' is largely restricted to medical or formal contexts.
- inhale
- expire
- exhale

Origin

From Middle English inspiren, enspiren, from Old French inspirer, variant of espirer, from Latin īnspīrāre (“inspire”), itself a loan-translation of Biblical Ancient Greek πνέω (pnéō, “breathe”), from in + spīrō (“breathe”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peys- (“to blow, breathe”). Displaced native Old English onbryrdan (literally “to prick in”).