in ‧ spi ‧ ra ‧ tion /ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃ ə n, ˌɪnspɪˈreɪʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
1 . a good idea about what you should do, write, say etc, especially one which you get suddenly:
The Malvern Hills have provided inspiration for many artists and musicians over the decades.
He raised his eyes to the altar as if seeking inspiration.
He draws inspiration from ordinary scenes.
Mary Quant’s inspiration comes from the glam style of the seventies.
He had a sudden flash of inspiration.
He has always been a source of inspiration for me.
2 . a person, experience, place etc that gives you new ideas for something you do:
The seascapes of Cape Cod were her inspiration.
inspiration for/behind
He was the inspiration for Wordsworth’s poem ‘The Old Huntsman’.
3 . be an inspiration to somebody to make someone feel encouraged to be as good, successful etc as possible:
People like Tara are an inspiration to us all.
4 . under the inspiration of somebody used to say who made a person or group want to do something:
the spread of improved nursing under the inspiration of Florence Nightingale
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ verbs
▪ get inspiration from something
He gets much of his inspiration from the classical poets.
▪ draw/take/derive inspiration from something (=get inspiration)
She draws inspiration from mythology and folk stories.
▪ find inspiration in something
As a musician, he finds inspiration in traditional music.
▪ look for inspiration ( also seek inspiration formal )
I sought inspiration in medieval carvings.
▪ have an inspiration (=suddenly have an idea)
He had an inspiration while he was taking a walk in the countryside.
▪ lack inspiration (=not have any good or interesting ideas)
His latest album appears to lack inspiration.
▪ provide inspiration for something
The Malvern Hills have provided inspiration for many artists.
▪ inspiration comes from somebody/something
The architect’s chief inspiration came from Christopher Wren.
■ phrases
▪ a flash of inspiration (=a sudden good idea)
A sudden flash of inspiration came to him.
▪ a source of inspiration for/to somebody
Our success was a source of inspiration for many countries in Africa.
■ adjectives
▪ a great inspiration
My mother was a great inspiration to me.
▪ a sudden inspiration
He had a sudden inspiration.
▪ fresh inspiration (=new inspiration)
Fresh inspiration was provided by his trip to Italy.
▪ direct inspiration (=in which someone copies an idea directly from a person or thing)
She took direct inspiration from the films of John Ford.
▪ divine inspiration (=inspiration from God)
He prayed for divine inspiration.
▪ creative inspiration (=which inspires someone to create something new, for example a story or a work of art)
Her creative inspiration is evident in this series of sculptures.
▪ artistic inspiration (=which inspires someone to produce a work of art)
Writers are always looking for new sources of inspiration.
▪ poetic inspiration (=which inspires someone to write poetry)
Poetic inspiration can come from many sources.
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THESAURUS
▪ idea something that you think of, especially something that you could do or suggest:
I think that’s an excellent idea.
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Let me know if you have any good ideas.
▪ thought something that comes into your mind:
The thought had entered my mind that he might be lying.
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It was a worrying thought.
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She was lost in her thoughts.
▪ impression the idea that you have in your mind about what someone or something is like:
What was your impression of him?
▪ inspiration a good and original idea, which makes you think of doing or creating something:
Where did you get your inspiration from for the book?
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He suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
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The design for the house was entirely the inspiration of the architect.
▪ brainwave British English , brainstorm American English a sudden new and clever idea, especially one that solves a problem:
I thought I’d have to sell the house, but then I had a brainwave.
▪ concept an idea of how something is, or how something should be done:
Concepts of beauty are different in different cultures.
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the traditional concept of marriage
▪ notion an idea about life or society, especially one that is a little silly or old-fashioned:
There is no evidence to support the notion that poverty is caused by laziness.