# inspiring

/ˌɪnˈspaɪɝɪŋ/ (US) · /ɪnspˈaɪəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. encouraging or motivating

adjective · CEFR B2

making you feel enthusiastic and eager to do something great.

For teachers: providing motivation or creative stimulus; having the quality of encouraging others to achieve or create.

- The teacher gave an inspiring speech that made the students want to work harder.
- The CEO's inspiring vision for the company's future convinced the investors to provide the necessary capital despite the economic downturn.

### 2. giving someone an idea

verb · CEFR B2

the action of filling someone with a feeling or a creative idea.

For teachers: the present participle of 'inspire', used to describe the ongoing act of motivating or eliciting a specific emotion in others.

- She is currently inspiring a whole new generation of young female scientists.
- By sharing her personal journey of overcoming adversity, she is inspiring thousands of people to pursue their dreams regardless of their background.

Usage: As a verb, it often takes a direct object representing the person or group being influenced.

## Examples

- The teacher gave an inspiring speech to the students.
- Watching the documentary about the young activist was truly inspiring for everyone in the audience.
- The architect's vision for the community center was so inspiring that local residents volunteered their time and resources to ensure the project reached completion.

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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.