ambient

[am-bee-uhnt]

adjective

1. of the surrounding area or environment: The temperature in the display case was 20° lower than the ambient temperature.

   Your voice mail picked up some ambient noise from airplanes and lawn mowers.

   The temperature in the display case was 20° lower than the ambient temperature.

2. completely surrounding; enveloping.

   Many pollutants are present in ambient air in relatively low concentrations.

3. creating a certain reaction or mood, often a subconscious one, by being wherever people tend to be.

   ambient advertising on a shopping cart.

4. pertaining to or noting sounds that create a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere.

   I stream ambient ocean sounds to help me fall asleep.

5. pertaining to or noting close and constant social contact and communication fostered by the internet or the use of digital devices.

   social media sites that enable ambient intimacy and awareness.

noun

1. ambient music.

ambient

/ ˈæmbɪənt /

adjective

1. of or relating to the immediate surroundings

   the ambient temperature was 15°C

2. creating a relaxing atmosphere

   ambient music

noun

1. informal,  ambient music

Other Word Forms

• unambient adjective
• unambiently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambient¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin ambient- (stem of ambiēns, present participle of ambīre “to go around”), equivalent to amb- ambi- + -i- “go” + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambient¹

C16: from Latin ambiēns going round, from ambīre, from _ambi- + īre to go

Example Sentences

After teasing an announcement on social media, Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle maker unveiled a “standard” Model 3 and Model Y that lack features such as wraparound ambient lighting and power-adjusted steering wheels.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The temperature was around 93 degrees and the ambient humidity was somewhere between Nordic sauna and Brazilian rainforest.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The capacity of film to genuinely frighten, via editing, camera, music and—notably in a Wan film—ambient sound was being abandoned in favor of gore and giggles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Tesla introduced a “standard” Model Y and Model 3 that lack features such as wraparound ambient lighting and power-adjusted steering wheels, hoping to draw in budget-conscious buyers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Verstappen's last remark highlights an issue with the system whereby if the dry ice cannot be kept cold for long enough, the fluid in the system takes on the ambient temperature around the tank.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• atmosphere 
• environment 
• feeling 
• mood 
• surroundings 
• trend