ambiance
Americannoun
-
the mood, character, quality, tone, atmosphere, etc., particularly of an environment or milieu.
The restaurant had a delightful ambiance.
-
that which surrounds or encompasses; environment.
Synonym Usage
See environment.
Etymology
Origin of ambiance
First recorded in 1885–95; from French, equivalent to ambi(ant) “surrounding” ( Middle French, also ambient ), from Latin; see ambient + -ance -ance
Explanation
An ambiance is the mood or setting of a place. You might like the ambiance of a certain restaurant because the lighting and decor makes you feel comfortable and happy. Ambiance is pronounced "AHM-bee-ahns." Most places have an ambiance made up of whatever sights, smells, sounds, and even sensations or textures fill the space. A fancy French restaurant gets its ambiance from the candlelight and chic black outfits worn by the wait staff while the diner off the highway might have a funky, retro ambiance because of its 1950s counter and jukebox full of golden oldies.
Vocabulary lists containing ambiance
Around and Around: Ambi
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amb, ambi
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Evoking the ambiance of a secluded European retreat, the home seamlessly blends luxury, nature, and craftsmanship.”
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
“Evoking the ambiance of a secluded European retreat, the home seamlessly blends luxury, nature, and craftsmanship,” the listing continues.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
They can ask the assistant why a restaurant is so popular or what the ambiance is like inside before deciding whether to spend time there.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2025
"It's just for the ambiance," says Shonnys Akoulatele a potential voter who believes there is more to governance than displaying campaign posters.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2025
When all was done we could enter the tent, and almost at once the heat of the Chabe stove could be felt as an enveloping, protecting ambiance.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
