ambition

[ am-bish-uhn ]

noun

1. an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment:

   Too much ambition caused him to be disliked by his colleagues.

   Synonyms: longing, yearning, aspiration

2. the object, state, or result desired or sought after:

   The crown was his ambition.

   Synonyms: aim, goal

3. desire for work or activity; energy:

   I awoke feeling tired and utterly lacking in ambition.

   Synonyms: force, drive

verb (used with object)

1. to seek after earnestly; aspire to.

ambition

/ æmˈbɪʃən /

noun

1. strong desire for success, achievement, or distinction
2. something so desired; goal; aim

Other Words From

• am·bition·less adjective
• am·bition·less·ly adverb
• pream·bition noun
• super·am·bition noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambition¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ambicio(u)n, from Middle French or directly from Latin ambitiōn- (stem of ambitiō ), equivalent to amb- ambi- + -i- “go” + -t- past participle suffix + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambition¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin ambitiō a going round (of candidates), a striving to please, from ambīre to go round; see ambit

Example Sentences

Yet the kingdom's human rights record, restrictions on women's rights and the criminalisation of the LGBTQ+ community has prompted controversy over its ambition to host the men's World Cup in 10 years time.

From BBC

Yet the man’s ambition, ingenuity and resilience mirrors the filmmakers’ own hustle to pull off this marvel, and that also happens to be exactly what Hollywood needs right now to survive.

From Los Angeles Times

One avenue for this ambition is cell receptors, which function like ignition slots on a cell, requiring keys -- such as specific hormones, drugs, or antigens -- to start up specific cellular activities.

From Science Daily

But it was a big space, intended to project big ambition as the government set out the key things it wants to focus on and be judged on.

From BBC

But he added: "Such incentives are unsustainable – industry cannot deliver the UK’s world-leading ambitions alone."

From BBC

Related Words

• appetite
• aspiration
• desire
• energy
• enthusiasm
• hope
• initiative
• longing
• love
• lust
• passion
• pretension
• spirit
• vigor
• yearning
• zeal