ambiance
Americannoun
plural
ambiances-
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.
Related Words
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
“With two gated driveways, serene lawns, and a high-end tropical ambiance, this estate seamlessly blends privacy, prestige, and paradise. A one-of-a-kind legacy property – experience the ultimate Florida Keys lifestyle,” the listing adds.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 17, 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
Director Sam Pinkleton turns up the party volume in a revival that sometimes allows the comic ambiance to get the better of its emotional through line.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2024
They are dinner parties like any other, though the ambiance and the late hour makes them something else, something unusual and curious.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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.
