ambient temperature

American

[am-bee-uhnt tem-per-uh-cher, -choor, -pruh-, -per-cher] / ˈæm bi ənt ˈtɛm pər ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər, -prə-, -pər tʃər /

noun

the temperature of the air at a given time and in a particular place or circumstance.

The common frog shifts its periods of activity to compensate for high or low ambient temperatures.
Servers and other equipment that cannot cool themselves depend on a well-managed ambient temperature for optimum performance.

Etymology

Origin of ambient temperature

First recorded in 1810–15

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.

Instead of relying on heavy metal catalysts, the reaction is activated by an LED lamp at ambient temperature.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

From 1 June, the compression ratio will be measured at 130C as well as ambient temperature, and from next year only at 130C.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

They showed that, on average, the near-surface temperature on mountain glaciers worldwide warmed 0.83 degrees Celsius for every degree rise in ambient temperature.

From Science Daily • Oct. 26, 2025

"The ash cloud then dissipated and the brain could cool down quickly to ambient temperature, transforming into glass."

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2025

Thus it probably was at the ambient temperature of the launch site.

From Pushbutton War by Schoenherr, John

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023