aspire to + noun
Aim for a goal or status
Use aspire to with achievements, positions, or ideals.
They aspire to excellence in research.
Aspire to or aspire for?
Aspire is normally followed by to. Aspire for is generally nonstandard in current English.
Quick answer
Use aspire to
Use aspire to when talking about goals, ambitions, or desired positions. Aspire for is usually considered incorrect or unnatural in standard English.
She aspires to leadership roles.
Many students aspire to success in their careers.
He aspires to become a doctor.
Many students aspire to success in their careers.
He aspires to become a doctor.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
aspire to + verb
Express a long-term ambition
Use aspire to before an infinitive verb.
She aspires to work abroad someday.
aspire to + position
Seek a higher role
This pattern is common in professional and political contexts.
He aspires to the presidency.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
aspire to
She aspires to a career in science.
Standard pattern meaning aim for or hope to achieve.
aspire for
Aspire for success is generally considered nonstandard.
Not the usual modern English pattern.
hope for
They hope for better results.
A common alternative when using for.
strive for
The team strives for excellence.
Another standard verb followed by for.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using aspire for
Standard English uses aspire to.
✕ He aspires for fame. ✓ He aspires to fame.Forgetting to before a verb
Use to before an infinitive.
✕ She aspires become an engineer. ✓ She aspires to become an engineer.Using aspire in short-term situations
Aspire usually refers to long-term ambitions.
✕ I aspire to finish this email today. ✓ I hope to finish this email today.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. She aspires ___ a career in medicine.
2. They aspire ___ improve public services.
3. Which phrase is standard English?
Check your sentence in context
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Free to try · No signup required
Frequently asked questions
Is aspire for correct?
It is generally considered nonstandard or unnatural in modern standard English. Aspire to is preferred.
Can aspire be followed by a verb?
Yes. Use aspire to plus an infinitive verb, such as aspire to lead or aspire to become.
What verbs are similar to aspire?
Aim for, strive for, and hope for express related ideas but use different prepositions.
Related preposition guides
Write with confidence in Linguix
Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.
