noun · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
ĭn'spərāʹshən
Canada, General-American:/ˌɪn.spɚˈeɪ.ʃən/
California, Southern:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/ˌɪn.spəˈɹæɪ.ʃən/
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:IH2 N S P ER0 EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Topics: medicine, physiology, sciences
Examples
Holonym: respiration
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: inhalation
Antonyms: expiration, exhalation
2
noun
Meaning 2
A single inward breath (intake of air).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: inhalation
Antonyms: expiration, exhalation
3
noun
Meaning 3
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The act or process of an elevating or stimulating influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
She was waiting for inspiration to write a book.
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:
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”).
Across languages
Translations
158 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
ներշնչում
(neršnčʻum)
— physiology: drawing of air
Bulgarian:
вдишване
(vdišvane)
— physiology: drawing of air
Catalan:
inspiració
— physiology: drawing of air
Czech:
nádech
— physiology: drawing of air
Dutch:
inademing
— physiology: drawing of air
Dutch:
inademen
— physiology: drawing of air
Estonian:
sissehingamine
— physiology: drawing of air
Finnish:
sisäänhengitys
— physiology: drawing of air
Galician:
inspiración
— physiology: drawing of air
German:
Einatmung
— physiology: drawing of air
German:
Einatmen
— physiology: drawing of air
German:
Einschnaufen
— physiology: drawing of air
Greek:
εισπνοή
(eispnoḯ)
— physiology: drawing of air
Hebrew:
שְׁאִיפָה
(sh'ifá)
— physiology: drawing of air
Hungarian:
belégzés
— physiology: drawing of air
Hungarian:
belélegzés
— physiology: drawing of air
Indonesian:
inspirasi
— physiology: drawing of air
Italian:
inspirazione
— physiology: drawing of air
Italian:
inalazione
— physiology: drawing of air
Korean:
흡입
(heubip)
— physiology: drawing of air
Korean:
들이쉬기
(deuriswigi)
— physiology: drawing of air
Latvian:
ieelpa
— physiology: drawing of air
Latvian:
ieelpošana
— physiology: drawing of air
Latvian:
inspirācija
— physiology: drawing of air
Macedonian:
вдишу́вање
(vdišúvanje)
— physiology: drawing of air
Malay:
inspirasi
— physiology: drawing of air
Polish:
wdech
— physiology: drawing of air
Portuguese:
inspiração
— physiology: drawing of air
Romanian:
inspirație
— physiology: drawing of air
Russian:
вдыха́ние
(vdyxánije)
— physiology: drawing of air
Russian:
вдох
(vdox)
— physiology: drawing of air
Serbo-Croatian:
udahnuti
— physiology: drawing of air
Spanish:
inspiración
— physiology: drawing of air
Dutch:
adem
— a breath, a single inhalation
Dutch:
ademhaling
— a breath, a single inhalation
Estonian:
õhusõõm
— a breath, a single inhalation
Hungarian:
légzés
— a breath, a single inhalation
Hungarian:
lélegzés
— a breath, a single inhalation
Hungarian:
lélegzet
— a breath, a single inhalation
Hungarian:
lélegzetvétel
— a breath, a single inhalation
Hungarian:
levegővétel
— a breath, a single inhalation
Italian:
respiro
— a breath, a single inhalation
Korean:
숨
(sum)
— a breath, a single inhalation
Latvian:
ieelpa
— a breath, a single inhalation
Macedonian:
здив
(zdiv)
— a breath, a single inhalation
Macedonian:
вдишу́вање
(vdišúvanje)
— a breath, a single inhalation
Portuguese:
inspiração
— a breath, a single inhalation
Portuguese:
inalação
— a breath, a single inhalation
Tagalog:
suludhingahan
— a breath, a single inhalation
