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Essential Collocations with Inspiration: Master Natural English Expression
Understanding collocations with inspiration transforms your English from basic to sophisticated. These word combinations appear frequently in academic writing, professional communication, and creative contexts. Master these 35 essential phrases to express ideas about creativity, motivation, and innovation with native-like fluency. Whether you're preparing for IELTS, advancing your career, or enhancing your writing skills, these collocations provide the precision and authenticity that elevate your English expression.

I. What is Inspiration?
In English, Inspiration is pronounced as /ˌɪn.spəˈreɪ.ʃən/ and functions as a noun, meaning: the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. For example:
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Anna has been an inspiration to us all.
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The golden autumn light provided the inspiration for the painting.
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Xavia had the inspiration to turn the play into a musical.
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John had an inspiration - why not apply for some government money?
II. Common collocations with Inspiration
The noun "inspiration" frequently appears in both creative and motivational contexts. The following tables list common collocations with "inspiration" to help learners understand how the word is naturally combined in English usage.
1. Creative and Artistic Inspiration
No. |
Collocations with Inspiration |
Example |
1 |
Artistic inspiration /ɑrˈtɪstɪk ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The painter found artistic inspiration in the vibrant colors of nature, which she translated onto her canvas. |
2 |
Creative inspiration /kriˈeɪtɪv ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The screenwriter's creative inspiration emerged from observing human interactions in busy coffee shops around the city. |
3 |
Musical inspiration /ˈmjuzɪkəl ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The composer's musical inspiration flowed from the rhythmic sounds of rain against her studio window during thunderstorms. |
4 |
Literary inspiration /ˈlɪtərɛri ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The novelist found literary inspiration in forgotten letters discovered in her grandmother's attic, sparking a historical fiction series. |
5 |
Visual inspiration /ˈvɪʒuəl ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The graphic designer gathered visual inspiration from geometric patterns found in Islamic architecture during her travels. |
2. Sources and Origins of Inspiration
No. |
Collocations with Inspiration |
Example |
6 |
Divine inspiration /dɪˈvaɪn ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
Many composers throughout history have claimed to receive divine inspiration for their music, believing their creativity to be a gift from a higher power. |
7 |
Original inspiration /əˈrɪdʒənl ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The fashion designer drew upon her original inspiration from vintage clothing styles, infusing them with modern elements to create a unique and timeless collection. |
8 |
Source of inspiration /sɔrs ʌv ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The beautiful landscapes of the countryside served as a constant source of inspiration for the photographer, who captured their essence in stunning photographs. |
9 |
Spiritual inspiration /ˈspɪrɪʧʊəl ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The poet's spiritual inspiration came from her deep connection with nature and her contemplation of the universe's mysteries. |
10 |
External inspiration /ɪkˈstɜrnəl ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The entrepreneur relied on external inspiration from successful business leaders to develop her innovative startup strategy. |
3. Types and Qualities of Inspiration

No. |
Collocations with Inspiration |
Example |
11 |
Flash of inspiration /flæʃ ʌv ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
As she sat pondering her next novel, a sudden flash of inspiration struck her, leading to the creation of an entirely new storyline. |
12 |
Sudden inspiration /ˈsʌdən ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The architect experienced sudden inspiration while walking through ancient ruins, visualizing modern structures integrated with historical elements. |
13 |
Fresh inspiration /frɛʃ ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The cookbook author sought fresh inspiration by exploring street food markets in Southeast Asian countries. |
14 |
Deep inspiration /dip ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The social activist drew deep inspiration from civil rights leaders who fought against injustice in previous generations. |
15 |
Pure inspiration /pjʊr ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The dancer's performance reflected pure inspiration, flowing naturally without conscious thought or technical constraints. |
4. Actions Related to Inspiration
No. |
Collocations with Inspiration |
Example |
16 |
Get inspiration from /ɡɛt ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən frɒm/ |
Artists often get inspiration from nature when creating their masterpieces. |
17 |
Draw/take/derive inspiration from /drɔː - teɪk - dɪˈraɪv ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən frɒm/ |
The architect drew inspiration from ancient Greek architecture when designing the new courthouse. |
18 |
Find inspiration in /faɪnd ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən ɪn/ |
Writers often find inspiration in everyday life, drawing from their experiences to create compelling stories. |
19 |
Look/seek for inspiration /lʊk - siːk fɔːr ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
Aspiring musicians look for inspiration in the works of their favorite artists to develop their own unique style. |
20 |
Gain inspiration through /ɡeɪn ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən θru/ |
The chef gained inspiration through traveling to remote villages and learning traditional cooking techniques from local families. |
5. Having and Experiencing Inspiration
No. |
Collocations with Inspiration |
Example |
21 |
Have an inspiration /hæv ən ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The poet had an inspiration in the middle of the night and quickly jotted down the lines that came to mind. |
22 |
Feel inspiration /fil ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The young teacher felt inspiration surge through her as she watched her students grasp difficult mathematical concepts. |
23 |
Experience inspiration /ɪkˈspɪriəns ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The documentary filmmaker experienced profound inspiration while interviewing survivors of natural disasters about their resilience. |
24 |
Strike inspiration /straɪk ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
Sometimes inspiration strikes when you least expect it, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary creative breakthroughs. |
25 |
Catch inspiration /kæʧ ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The inventor learned to catch inspiration from failed experiments, viewing each setback as valuable data for future innovations. |
6. Sharing and Providing Inspiration

No. |
Collocations with Inspiration |
Example |
26 |
Provide inspiration for /prəˈvaɪd ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən fɔːr/ |
The breathtaking landscape provided inspiration for the photographer's next series of photographs. |
27 |
Share inspiration with /ʃɛr ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən wɪθ/ |
The veteran artist regularly shared inspiration with emerging painters through workshops and mentorship programs. |
28 |
Offer inspiration to /ˈɔfər ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən tu/ |
The motivational speaker offered inspiration to thousands of audience members struggling with personal and professional challenges. |
29 |
Spread inspiration among /sprɛd ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən əˈmʌŋ/ |
The community leader worked tirelessly to spread inspiration among youth, encouraging them to pursue education and career goals. |
7. Lacking and Losing Inspiration
No. |
Collocations with Inspiration |
Example |
30 |
Lack inspiration /læk ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
The painter struggled to complete her latest piece as she lacked inspiration and couldn't find the right muse. |
31 |
Lose inspiration /luz ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
Many artists fear they will lose inspiration if they become too focused on commercial success rather than creative expression. |
32 |
Block inspiration /blɑk ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ |
Stress and perfectionism can block inspiration, preventing creative minds from accessing their natural flow of ideas. |
8. Sources and Flow of Inspiration
No. |
Collocations with Inspiration |
Example |
33 |
Inspiration comes from /ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən kʌmz frɒm/ |
Innovation often occurs when inspiration comes from unexpected sources, sparking new ideas and creativity. |
34 |
Inspiration flows from /ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən floʊz frɒm/ |
The sculptor's best work emerged when inspiration flowed from her deep understanding of human emotions and experiences. |
35 |
Inspiration stems from /ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən stɛmz frɒm/ |
The social entrepreneur's passion for change stemmed from inspiration rooted in witnessing poverty during childhood travels with humanitarian parents. |
These collocations cover various aspects of inspiration, from creative and artistic contexts to personal motivation and professional development. They demonstrate the versatility of the word "inspiration" in English communication and provide learners with authentic examples for IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks.
For more collocations with Inspiration, click the link below:
EXPLORE MORE COLLOCATIONS WITH INSPIRATION ON CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY!
III. Exercises on collocations with Inspiration
To better understand the meanings of collocations with Inspiration, let's complete the practice exercise below:
1. Exercise: Choose the correct answer
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Watching the sunset at an open cafe on the palm-lined seashore can be an infinite source of ___________ and creativity.
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Artistic inspiration
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Divine inspiration
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Flash of inspiration
-
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The enthusiasts, who claimed to prophesy and to have direct ___________, were increasingly seen in the seventeenth century as melancholies.
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Flash of inspiration
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Divine inspiration
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Original inspiration
-
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That was a blinding___________.
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Source of inspiration
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Divine inspiration
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Flash of inspiration
-
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The subject and the composition, the ___________ and its transmutation on paper-these are no longer the domain of the craftsman.
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Original inspiration
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Source of inspiration
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Spiritual inspiration
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At the same time it was an effective ___________ for the generation of electronically transformed and synthesised sounds.
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Flash of inspiration
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Source of inspiration
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Divine inspiration
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It is a picture which is looked at by thousands from all over the world in order to obtain ___________.
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Flash of inspiration
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Source of inspiration
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Apiritual inspiration
-
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Meditating in the serene garden can be an infinite source of ___________ and creative insights.
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Artistic inspiration
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Divine inspiration
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Spiritual inspiration
-
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The painter __________ inspiration from the vibrant colors and textures of nature to create her masterpiece.
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gets
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draws
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All of the above
2. Answer
1 - A |
2 - B |
3 - C |
4 - A |
5 - B |
6 - C |
7 - C |
8 - C |
Mastering collocations with inspiration equips you with powerful tools for natural English communication. These phrases enhance your vocabulary range while demonstrating linguistic sophistication in academic and professional contexts. Practice incorporating these collocations into your speaking and writing to achieve more authentic, fluent expression. Remember that inspiration itself often comes from consistent practice and exposure to authentic language patterns. Start using these collocations today to transform your English from functional to exceptional, building the confidence that comes with truly understanding how native speakers combine words naturally.

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.
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