What does inspiring mean?
Inspiring means causing or conveying inspiration, particularly enthusiasm, admiration, or the motivation to act. It is used for people, events, speeches, stories, and examples that encourage others to feel uplifted or pursue worthwhile goals. The word commonly suggests a positive emotional effect, although it can also emphasize practical encouragement, as in an inspiring mentor or an inspiring approach to problem-solving. In everyday use, inspiring is often stronger and more enthusiastic than encouraging: an inspiring speech may not simply reassure listeners but may awaken hope, admiration, or determination. Because the adjective carries a strongly favorable connotation, writers sometimes use it to praise or promote something, so its basis can be important in formal contexts. Inspiring is closely related to inspiration, inspirationally, and inspirational, and it can also function as the present participle of inspire in phrases such as inspiring confidence.
Causing or conveying inspiration, especially enthusiasm, admiration, or motivation.
"The charity’s inspiring work has transformed lives in the community."
Strongly positive and commonly used of people, speeches, stories, events, and examples.
The present participle of inspire, meaning giving inspiration, encouragement, or motivation to someone or something.
"The coach was inspiring greater confidence in the young players."
This form is usually used in the construction inspiring plus a noun, such as inspiring confidence or inspiring change.
An inspiring idea does more than make you feel enthusiastic; it gives you a direction worth moving toward.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inspiring come from?
Inspiring is formed from inspire plus the present-participle ending -ing. Inspire comes from Latin inspirare, meaning “to breathe into” or “to breathe in,” built from in-, meaning “into,” and spirare, meaning “to breathe.” English later extended inspire from the idea of breathing or animating to the figurative ideas of imparting ideas, encouragement, or motivation, from which inspiring developed its modern adjectival use.
Related word forms
How inspiring is actually used
Inspiring is strongly positive and often carries an emotional or motivational tone. It is especially common in descriptions of people, speeches, stories, events, and examples; in formal writing, it can sound somewhat promotional or subjective unless the basis for the description is clear.
Easily confused with inspiring
Inspired describes someone or something affected by inspiration or motivation, while inspiring describes someone or something that gives inspiration or encouragement to others.