Dictionary

inspiration en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌɪn.spəˈɹæɪ.ʃən/ (Australia)
• /ˌɪn.spɚˈeɪ.ʃən/ (Canada, General-American)
• (California, Southern) audio
• ĭn'spərāʹshən
• /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

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”).

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm, as part of the act of breathing.
   • If a reaction involves increased muscle tonus and too much inspiration, muscle relaxation and exhalation exercises might be of use. 2008, G Berghs, “Stage fright in singers: Three reaction types”, in Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica:
   • Holonym: respiration
   • The respiratory movements are no longer normal and rhythmic acts of inspiration and exspiration, but abnormal and irregular expiratory movements 1857, M. Hall [junior] editor, Prone and postival respiration in drowning and other forms of apricea, or suspended respiration:
2. (countable) A single inward breath (intake of air).
   • One of them had a temperature of 40° cent. 104° Fahr. and 97 inspirations per minute. 1838, Thomas Hodgkin, Dr. Fisher, On the influence of physical agents on life, translation of original by William Frédéric Edwards, Pouillet (Claude Servais Mathias, M.), and Luke Howard:
   • On physical examination, blood pressure was 145/70 mm Hg, pulse was 108 beats per minute, respiratory rate was 36 inspirations per minute, body temperature was 38 ºC and her oxygen saturation (during nasal oxygen intake) was 93%. 2013, A Kose, C Yildirim, B Kose, N Gunay, …, “Can agricultural drugs be used against lice? Accident, suicide or truth? Case presentations”, in Eastern Journal of Medicine:
   • Laughing is produced by an inspiration succeeded by a succession of short imperfect expirations. 1826, John Bostock, An Elementary System of Physiology, page 220:
3. (countable, uncountable) A supernatural divine influence on the prophets, apostles, or sacred writers, by which they were qualified to communicate moral or religious truth with authority; a supernatural influence which qualifies people to receive and communicate divine truth; also, the truth communicated.
   • The more strongly people felt about their ideas, the more potent the demons seemed to them: Christians believed that traditional paganism, far from being the work of men, was an 'opium of the masses', pumped into the human race by the non-human demons; and one scholar even ascribed bad reviews of his book to demonic inspiration! 1971, Peter Brown, The World of Late Antiquity: AD 150—750, Thames & Hudson LTD, published 2013, →ISBN, page 54:
   • The question, therefore, at issue is, not whether those external means be sufficient without grace and divine inspiration, for none pretends that": but, in order to hinder men from feigning or imagining an inspiration, whether it has not been God's economy, and his usual conduct to make his inspiration walk hand in hand with certain means of fact, which men can neither feign in the air without being convicted of falsehood, nor imagine without illusion. 1688, Jacques Bénigne Bossuet, The History of the Variations of the Protestant Churches Vol.2 (1829 translation), p. 355
4. (countable, uncountable) The act or process of an elevating or stimulating influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.
   • Usage notes: In this sense, it may be followed by the adposition to in relation to the person being influenced, and for or to in relation to the idea or activity:
   • And now it is time for problem solving which, if successful, will create new ideas serving as an inspiration source for future research objects of the researcher in question as well as other researchers within the same field. 2002, Sven Rasegård, Man and Science: A Web of Systems and Social Conventions, page 2:
   • “Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 51:
   • She was waiting for inspiration to write a book.
   • All this suggests that Andrea may, like the authors of the devotional panel, the fresco, and the print – and like Leonardo, as we shall see – have found his inspiration in Pollaiuolo. 1998, David Allen Brown, Leonardo da Vinci: Origins of a Genius, page 25:
   • As for United, this was a performance lacking in inspiration, purpose and threat and once again underlined the urgency for transfer business to be done in the closing hours of the transfer window. 2013 September 1, Phil McNulty, “Liverpool 1-0 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport:
   • We caught the inspiration of his joy; and imagination painted a glorious future near at hand for our land, quickly to develop itself under the guidance of his fostering wisdom, and fraternal counsels and care. 1865, George Duffield, The Nation's Wail, page 6:
5. (countable, uncountable) A person, object, or situation which quickens or stimulates an influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.
   • She had grown accustomed to look upon Ethel as Walter's passion and inspiration: it was something far off and distant, which even she felt was sacred; but Lady Marchmont was a new rival, and come too actual, and too near. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 208–209:
   • The trip was an inspiration to her for writing a book.
   • The people of Ukraine and Georgia are an inspiration to the world, and I was pleased that this week NATO declared that Ukraine and Georgia will become members of NATO. 2008 April 5, George W. Bush, Presidential Radio Address:
6. (countable, uncountable) A new idea, especially one which arises suddenly and is clever or creative.
   • After an interval the Psychologist had an inspiration. "It must have gone into the past if it has gone anywhere," he said. 1895 May 29, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “The Inventor”, in The Time Machine: An Invention, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, page 21:
   • The weekend inventor has five U.S. patents and three more pending for inspirations such as a kickable Frisbee, a clothes-ironing mitt and a leak-proof shower curtain. 1997, “By The Seat Of His Pants”, in Ski, volume 61, number 7, →ISSN, page 22:
   • [H]e accompanied her to a rehearsal of a skit satirizing “Casablanca,” and the director had an inspiration: Wouldn’t it be a laugh to cast a 10-year-old as Rick? 2007 July 1, Sylviane Gold, “Scenery Chewer Plays It Straight, Methodically”, in New York Times, retrieved 03 Sep 2013:
   • Mrs. Balfame had an inspiration. "My God!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet, "the murderer . . . was hidden in the cellar or attic all night, all the next day! He may be here yet!" 1916, Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton, chapter 15, in Mrs. Balfame:

Forms

Antonyms

expiration · expiration · exhalation · exhalation

Coordinates

perspiration

Deriveds

inspo · inspirationism · genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration · inspirationist · singspiration · reinspiration · inspirational · bioinspiration · fitspiration · inspiration porn · misinspiration · thinspiration

Relateds

Muse · Pierian spring · inspire

Synonyms

inhalation · inhalation · motivation · eureka · spark · afflatus · flash

Translations (162)

mk вдахнове́ние (supernatural divine influence) · hu lélegzetvétel (a breath, a single inhalation) · ru вдох (physiology: drawing of air) · gl inspiración (physiology: drawing of air) · he שְׁאִיפָה (physiology: drawing of air) · bg вдъхновение (supernatural divine influence) · it ispirazione (supernatural divine influence) · es inspiración (supernatural divine influence) · bg вдишване (physiology: drawing of air) · lv ieelpa (a breath, a single inhalation) · et taevalik tiivustatus (supernatural divine influence) · nv dadíníidzįįł (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · hi प्रेरणा (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · hu ihlet (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · hu lelkesítés (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ga spreagadh (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · es inspiración (physiology: drawing of air) · nl inademing (physiology: drawing of air) · hu levegővétel (a breath, a single inhalation) · ru вдохнове́ние (supernatural divine influence) · nl inspiratie (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · sh udahnuti (physiology: drawing of air) · pt inspiração (physiology: drawing of air) · tr esin (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · de Inspiration (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · cs nádech (physiology: drawing of air) · ro inspirație (supernatural divine influence) · ur اثر (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · cmn 靈感 /灵感 (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · nn inspirasjon (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · it suggestione (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · nl adem (a breath, a single inhalation) · pl inspiracja (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ga inspioráid (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · hu lélegzet (a breath, a single inhalation) · de Einatmen (physiology: drawing of air) · it inalazione (physiology: drawing of air) · hu sugalmazás (supernatural divine influence) · ar إِلْهَام (supernatural divine influence) · hu belélegzés (physiology: drawing of air) · cmn 鼓舞 (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · mi whakaohoohonga (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · id inspirasi (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ar وَحْي (supernatural divine influence) · fi inspiraatio (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · grc ἐπίπνοια (supernatural divine influence) · hy ոգեշնչում (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · non óðr (supernatural divine influence) · it illuminazione (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · tl sigya (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · lv inspirācija (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · eo inspiro (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · kk шабыт (supernatural divine influence) · nl ingeving (supernatural divine influence) · cs inspirace (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · tr ilham (supernatural divine influence) · hu inspiráció (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · et inspiratsioon (supernatural divine influence) · ko 영감 (supernatural divine influence) · ja 鼓舞 (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · et õhusõõm (a breath, a single inhalation) · pl natchnienie (supernatural divine influence) · hu belégzés (physiology: drawing of air) · sh nadahnuće (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · it respiro (a breath, a single inhalation) · ka შთაგონება (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ota الهام (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · es inspiración (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · hu lélegzés (a breath, a single inhalation) · is innblástur (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · cmn 吸入 (a breath, a single inhalation) · mk вдишу́вање (a breath, a single inhalation) · lv ieelpošana (physiology: drawing of air) · tl sigya (supernatural divine influence) · fi inspiraatio (supernatural divine influence) · pt inspiração (supernatural divine influence) · sh udahnuće (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · et sissehingamine (physiology: drawing of air) · pt inspiração (a breath, a single inhalation) · hy ներշնչում (physiology: drawing of air) · lv iedvesma (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ms inspirasi (physiology: drawing of air) · it illuminazione (supernatural divine influence) · fa الهام (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · pl wdech (physiology: drawing of air) · it ispirazione (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · it inspirazione (physiology: drawing of air) · ms ilham (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · el εισπνοή (physiology: drawing of air) · et -ind (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · fi innoitus (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · sv inspiration (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ko 감화 (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · de Einatmung (physiology: drawing of air) · ko 고취 (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · fi sisäänhenkäisy (a breath, a single inhalation) · nl inademen (physiology: drawing of air) · sh zadahnuće (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · sh Bogonadahnutost (supernatural divine influence) · id ilham (supernatural divine influence) · ar إِلْهَام (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · hu sugallat (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · fi sisäänhengitys (physiology: drawing of air) · pl natchnienie (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · mk здив (a breath, a single inhalation) · et jumalik innustus (supernatural divine influence) · ru вдохнове́ние (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · mk вдишу́вање (physiology: drawing of air) · ru вдыха́ние (physiology: drawing of air) · pt inspiração (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ko 들이쉬기 (physiology: drawing of air) · ota الهام (supernatural divine influence) · it folgorazione (supernatural divine influence) · et innustus (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · et vaim (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · non óðr (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · nl inspiratie (supernatural divine influence) · da inspiration (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · eo inspiriteco (supernatural divine influence) · hu ösztönzés (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ang onbryrdnes (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · id inspirasi (physiology: drawing of air) · tl sigliwa (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · hu légzés (a breath, a single inhalation) · ko 격려 (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · id inspirasi (supernatural divine influence) · hu szikra (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ur تاثیر (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · nl ademhaling (a breath, a single inhalation) · id ilham (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · de Einschnaufen (physiology: drawing of air) · tl suludhingahan (a breath, a single inhalation) · nb inspirasjon (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · lv iedvesma (supernatural divine influence) · be натхне́нне (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · et tiivustatus (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ang onbryrdnes (supernatural divine influence) · uk натхне́ння (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · el έμπνευση (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ja 霊感 (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ko 흡입 (physiology: drawing of air) · tr ilham (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · lv inspirācija (physiology: drawing of air) · ca inspiració (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ro inspirație (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ka ინსპირაცია (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · eo inspiriteco (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · fr inspiration (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · lv inspirācija (supernatural divine influence) · ca inspiració (supernatural divine influence) · ur تخلیقی تحریک (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ca inspiració (physiology: drawing of air) · he הַשְׁרָאָה (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · mi whakahihikotanga (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ro inspirație (physiology: drawing of air) · mk вдахнове́ние (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · lv ieelpa (physiology: drawing of air) · pt inalação (a breath, a single inhalation) · got 𐌰𐌷𐌼𐌰𐍄𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (supernatural divine influence) · bg вдъхновение (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ko 고무 (stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions) · ko 숨 (a breath, a single inhalation)