Definition of "aspiring"

Time and time again the people were foolish enough to trust, believe, and support with their last farthing aspiring politicians, only to find themselves betrayed and cheated.

1910, Emma Goldman, “Anarchism”, in Anarchism, and Other Essays‎, New York: Mother Earth Publishing Association, page 70

Here three aspiring young seamstresses—diplomas in dressmaking from the People’s College of Zimbabwe hung on the wall—bicker and scowl at each other.

2018, Tsitsi Dangarembga, chapter 16, in This Mournable Body‎, Minneapolis: Graywolf Press

[…] if we contemplate a vegetable in its material principle, and look on it as made of earth; we must have the true Theory of the nature of that Element, or we miserably fail of our Scientifical aspirings,

1661, Joseph Glanvill, chapter 22, in The Vanity of Dogmatizing‎, London: Henry Eversden, pages 214–215

[…] to the aspirings of unassuming trust, and filial confidence, are set no bounds.

1750, Samuel Johnson, The Rambler, No. 44, 18 August, 1750, in Volume 2, London: J. Payne and J. Bouquet, 1752, pp. 83-84

From whatsoe’er my wakened thoughts createOut of the hopes of thine aspirings bold,Have I collected language to unfoldTruth to my countrymen;

1818, Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Revolt of Islam‎, London: C. and J. Ollier, Canto 4, stanza 12, p. 81