Expire vs. Inspire: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Expire means to come to an end or die; Inspire means to fill with the urge or ability to do something.
Key Differences
Expire and Inspire are two words with fundamentally different meanings. To expire is to come to an end, often used in the context of a deadline or life ending. Conversely, to inspire means to encourage or to stimulate someone to do something creative or beneficial. While expiring implies a closure or cessation, inspiring suggests the beginning or enhancement of thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023
In terms of duration, when something expires, it suggests a finite period after which something is no longer valid or alive. On the other hand, when someone is inspired, it can lead to actions and creations that might endure well beyond the initial moment of inspiration. Expire is often associated with a conclusion, whereas inspire is related to the inception of ideas and motivation.
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Nov 13, 2023
The concept of expiration is associated with limitation, as in the expiration of a subscription or a life, indicating that no further activity is possible. Inspire, in contrast, is limitless in its potential, as it can lead to a cascade of thoughts and activities. Expire relates to the end of an existing state, whereas inspire relates to the potential for new beginnings and possibilities.
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Nov 13, 2023
Physiologically, to expire also refers to the act of exhalation, releasing air from the lungs, symbolizing a final act. To inspire, in this context, is to inhale, drawing air into the lungs, which is symbolic of taking in new life or ideas. While expiration is a release, inspiration is an intake, both necessary for life and creativity but at different stages of the cycle.
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Nov 13, 2023
In a metaphorical sense, things that expire leave room for new growth, albeit through their cessation. Inspiration, in turn, can be seen as the seed for growth, providing the necessary impulse for development and progress. Both expire and inspire are crucial to cycles of change and renewal, each playing a contrasting yet pivotal role.
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Nov 13, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To come to an end or cease to be valid.
To encourage or arouse a feeling or action.
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Nov 13, 2023
Usage
Often used with products, services, or life.
Commonly associated with creativity and motivation.
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Nov 13, 2023
Connotation
Negative, as it denotes an end.
Positive, as it indicates encouragement.
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Nov 13, 2023
Derived Nouns
Expiration (the act of expiring).
Inspiration (the act or power of inspiring).
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Nov 13, 2023
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Expire and Inspire Definitions
Inspire
Create a positive feeling in a person.
His bravery inspired the whole community.
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Nov 08, 2023
Inspire
Breathe in.
The singer inspired deeply before hitting the high note.
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Nov 08, 2023
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Inspire
To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion
Hymns that inspire the congregation.
An artist who was inspired by Impressionism.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To stimulate to action; motivate
A sales force that was inspired by the prospect of a bonus.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expire
To breathe one's last breath; die
The patient expired early this morning.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To cause (someone) to have a particular feeling; affect or touch
"At this moment he inspired her with disgust rather than with love" (Anthony Trollope).
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To cause someone to have (a feeling or reaction); elicit or arouse
A teacher who inspired admiration and respect.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To be the cause or source of; bring about
An invention that inspired many imitations.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expire
(intransitive) To lapse and become invalid.
My library card will expire next week.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence
A leader who inspires by example.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expire
(transitive) To give forth insensibly or gently, as a fluid or vapour; to emit in minute particles.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
(transitive) To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
(transitive) To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence; to fill with what animates, enlivens or exalts; to communicate inspiration to.
Elders should inspire children with sentiments of virtue.
The captain's speech was aimed to inspire her team to victory in the final.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expire
To breathe out; to emit from the lungs; to throw out from the mouth or nostrils in the process of respiration; - opposed to inspire.
Anatomy exhibits the lungs in a continual motion of inspiring and expiring air.
This chafed the boar; his nostrils flames expire.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
(intransitive) To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expire
To give forth insensibly or gently, as a fluid or vapor; to emit in minute particles; to exhale; as, the earth expires a damp vapor; plants expire odors.
The expiring of cold out of the inward parts of the earth in winter.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expire
To bring to a close; to terminate.
Expire the termOf a despised life.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath,Inspirèd hath in every holt and heathThe tender crops.
Descend, ye Nine, descend and sing,The breathing instruments inspire.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expire
To emit the last breath; to breathe out the life; to die; as, to expire calmly; to expire in agony.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expire
To come to an end; to cease; to terminate; to perish; to become extinct; as, the flame expired; his lease expires to-day; the month expired on Saturday.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; - opposed to expire.
Forced to inspire and expire the air with difficulty.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration.
And generous stout courage did inspire.
But dawning day new comfort hath inspired.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence; to fill with what animates, enlivens, or exalts; to communicate inspiration to; as, to inspire a child with sentiments of virtue; to inspire a person to do extraordinary feats.
Erato, thy poet's mind inspire,And fill his soul with thy celestial fire.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expire
Pass from physical life and lose all all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life;
She died from cancer
They children perished in the fire
The patient went peacefully
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; - opposed to expire.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
To breathe; to blow gently.
And when the wind amongst them did inspire,They wavèd like a penon wide dispread.
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
Supply the inspiration for;
The article about the artist inspired the exhibition of his recent work
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
Serve as the inciting cause of;
She prompted me to call my relatives
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
Urge on or encourage especially by shouts;
The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
Draw in (air);
Inhale deeply
Inhale the fresh mountain air
The patient has trouble inspiring
The lung cancer patient cannot inspire air very well
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Oct 19, 2023
Inspire
Fill someone with the urge to do something.
She inspired her students to strive for excellence.
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Nov 08, 2023
Inspire
Give rise to.
The artist's travels inspired his unique painting style.
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Nov 08, 2023
Inspire
Influence with a divine touch.
The scripture is believed to be inspired by a higher power.
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Nov 08, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does it mean for a subscription to expire?
A subscription that expires has reached the end of its active term and is no longer in effect.
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Nov 13, 2023
What does it mean to inspire someone?
To inspire someone is to motivate or encourage them to do or feel something, especially something creative or beneficial.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can an event expire?
Yes, the term can apply to events that have a set end time or date.
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Nov 13, 2023
What happens when a patent expires?
When a patent expires, its protection ends and the invention enters the public domain.
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Nov 13, 2023
Is expire used only in negative contexts?
Expire is often associated with endings, which can be negative, but it can also signify natural conclusions.
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Nov 13, 2023
How do you know when a coupon will expire?
A coupon will have an expiration date printed on it, indicating when it is no longer valid.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can inspiration come from negative experiences?
Yes, sometimes challenging or negative experiences can inspire personal growth or artistic expression.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can a person expire?
Yes, in a literal sense, when a person expires, it means they have died.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can the expiration of one thing lead to inspiration?
Yes, the end of one thing can often inspire the beginning of another.
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Nov 13, 2023
Do food products expire?
Yes, food products have expiration dates after which they may not be safe to consume.
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Nov 13, 2023
What does it mean to expire a policy?
To expire a policy means to let it lapse or come to an end without renewal.
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Nov 13, 2023
How do you inspire a team?
You can inspire a team by providing motivation, sharing a vision, and encouraging their efforts.
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Nov 13, 2023
Do all inspirations lead to positive outcomes?
Not necessarily; the outcome depends on how the inspiration is acted upon.
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Nov 13, 2023
Can you inspire yourself?
Yes, self-motivation is a form of inspiring oneself.
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Nov 13, 2023
What's the adjective form of expire?
The adjective form is "expired," as in "expired license."
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Nov 13, 2023
Can a law expire?
Yes, laws can expire if they include a sunset clause or are repealed.
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Nov 13, 2023
What's the adjective form of inspire?
The adjective form is "inspiring," as in "inspiring story."
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Nov 13, 2023
Does medicine expire?
Yes, medicines have expiration dates after which they may be less effective or unsafe.
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Nov 13, 2023
Is inspiration always immediate?
Inspiration can be immediate or it can emerge after contemplation and reflection.
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Nov 13, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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