ambition
Americannoun
-
ambitions
plural
-
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
-
the object, state, or result desired or sought after.
The crown was his ambition.
-
desire for work or activity; energy.
I awoke feeling tired and utterly lacking in ambition.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
strong desire for success, achievement, or distinction
-
something so desired; goal; aim
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of ambition
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
Explanation
Ambition is a strong desire to achieve. It's what Macbeth had too much of, and what slackers have too little of. If a person has ambition, the goal is usually wealth, power, or fame. This Middle English word is derived from Latin ambitiō, from ambīre "to go around or about." In ancient Rome, candidates for office would go around to gain votes, to further their goal of being powerful or famous.
Vocabulary lists containing ambition
Nothing But the Truth
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Stargirl
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"The Latehomecomer," Vocabulary from the memoir excerpt
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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.
See Examples For:
“The people of California deserve leaders who put politics and personal ambition aside and pursue truth, accountability, and justice with courage, integrity, and transparency,” said Michael Hestrin, Riverside County district attorney, in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026
"Her appointment reflects our ambition to keep Balenciaga at the forefront of innovation, creativity and culture," Kering chief executive Luca de Meo said in a statement.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
“Our ambition is… to continue to push creative boundaries, further establishing the house as a powerful and relevant voice,” De Meo said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
However, Stapley called the move an "attack on our whole existence" and is concerned that World Triathlon could direct attention and resources towards Hyrox's Olympic ambition - at the expense of his own sport.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
Richard was amused by the formal precision in the way Ugwu said expect; he admired Ugwu’s ambition and his recent scribbling on any paper he could find.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Only after France lost Haiti to a slave revolt that began in 1791 did Napoleon turn decisively from the New World to pursue his European ambitions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Merlo’s ambitions and braggadocio didn’t have much of a shelf life: On Wednesday, the company announced it was deconstructing the edifice he had erected, by splitting into two companies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
That now seems a long way off amid suggestions the ambitions of the club's Saudi Arabian owners, the Public Investment Fund, are running out of steam.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
The IPO comes as more major companies involved in the AI spending bonanza turn to the markets to finance their ambitions.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
As Jackson’s land holdings, fame, and political ambitions grew, so did nasty gossip about Rachel’s first marriage.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
