imtoken钱包官网下载安卓|ambition
AMBITION | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
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English
Meaning of ambition in English
ambitionnoun uk
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/æmˈbɪʃ.ən/ us
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/æmˈbɪʃ.ən/
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B1 [ C ] a strong wish to achieve something: [ + to infinitive ] His ambition is ultimately to run his own business. He has already achieved his main ambition in life - to become wealthy. political ambitions She doubts whether she'll ever be able to fulfil her ambition. I've always had a burning (= very great) ambition to be a film director. After his heart attack, he abandoned his ambition to become prime minister. Synonyms
aim (INTENTION)
aspiration (HOPE)
dream (HOPE)
goal (AIM)
hope
intent formal or specialized
intention
object (PURPOSE)
objective
target (AIM)
B2 [ U ] a strong wish to be successful, powerful, rich, etc.: She has a lot of ambition.
More examplesFewer examplesHer ambition and dogged determination ensured that she rose to the top of her profession.We are looking for someone with drive and ambition.Driving ambition is what most great leaders have in common.Being here is the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition.She finally achieved her ambition to visit South America.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Goals and purposes
affordance
avail
cause
dedicated
deflect
deliverable
dream
eye
key performance indicator
KPI
moonshot
objective
point
poodle
target
thought
towards
undedicated
undirected
unfocused
See more results »
(Definition of ambition from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
ambition | American Dictionary
ambitionnoun [ C/U ] us
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/æmˈbɪʃ·ən/
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a strong desire for success, achievement, power, or wealth: [ C ] His presidential ambitions were frustrated in the 1980s. [ U ] No one ever accused him of lacking ambition.
(Definition of ambition from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
ambition | Business English
ambitionnoun uk
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/æmˈbɪʃən/ us
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[ C ] a strong wish to achieve a particular thing: ambition to do sth After his heart attack, he abandoned his ambition to become CEO.achieve/fulfil/realize your ambition He has already achieved his main ambition in life - to become rich.ultimate/long-term ambition Her ultimate ambition is to run her own business. career ambitions. political/personal/artistic ambitions
[ U ] a strong wish to be successful: She's got a lot of ambition. I felt he lacked the ambition to succeed in showbusiness.
(Definition of ambition from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Examples of ambition
ambition
To this end, in this article, we identify the main research motivations and ambitions behind work in the field.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
The personalities, ambitions, actions and ideas of the latter, in turn, contribute to shape the profiles of the parties and decisively affect their performance.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
The thematic links, however, betray some of the ambitions of anthro-literary writing.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Plain good fortune had presented him with just the sort of connections he needed to match his sizeable ambitions.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
The army was pulled between the ambitions and goals of rival leaders.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
During the 1960s and early 1970s, government raised policy ambitions.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Bonds to partisan groups or personal career ambitions may interfere with the political mandate.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Given the ambitions held for it by its initiators, failure is little surprise.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
The 1997 survey included questions on employment and resources, and on plans and ambitions across a range of areas of personal and family life.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Party-political, factional and personal ambitions were also very much in evidence in the list of issues that influenced the final shape the border would take.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Given the similarity of constructivist ambitions, there may be fruitful connections to exploit between these two programs.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
In fact, modern history is full of examples that show how politicians, to divide people and realize their own selfish ambitions, have exploited this hostility.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
At least some zemstva also nurtured ambitions to profit from international trade and to compete with the state for the privilege of taxing grain exports.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
As used by junior scholars, acknowledgments mark an effort to enter the academic world, their expectations and ambitions.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Furthermore, the trend mainly consists of families without immediate ambitions of entering national politics.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
See all examples of ambition
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Collocations with ambition
ambition
These are words often used in combination with ambition.Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.
artistic ambitionHowever, since the next paragraph again shows, this de-spatialisation nevertheless led to the birth of a new artistic ambition.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
career ambitionThe report focuses on the comparison between career ambition and eventual destination, presenting this in the framework of career identities.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
lack of ambitionIts lack of imagination and lack of ambition are amazing.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
See all collocations with ambition
What is the pronunciation of ambition?
B1,B2
Translations of ambition
in Chinese (Traditional)
抱負, 志向, 雄心…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
抱负, 志向, 雄心…
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in Spanish
ambición, ambición [feminine]…
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in Portuguese
ambição, ambição [feminine], objetivo [masculine]…
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in more languages
in Marathi
in Japanese
in Turkish
in French
in Catalan
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in Hindi
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काहीतरी साध्य करण्याची तीव्र इच्छा, महत्वाकांक्षा, यशस्वी…
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念願, 大志, 野心…
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hırs, tutku, ihtiras…
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ambition [feminine], ambition…
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ambició…
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eerzucht, ambitie…
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எதையாவது சாதிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற வலுவான ஆசை, வெற்றிகரமான, சக்திவாய்ந்த…
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महत्वाकांक्षा, (कामयाब, ताकतवर…
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મહત્વાકાંક્ષા, પ્રબળ ઈચ્છા, સફળ…
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ambition, ærgærrighed…
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ärelystnad, ambition, strävan…
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cita-cita…
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der Ehrgeiz, die Ambition…
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ambisjoner [masculine, plural], ærgjerrighet [masculine]…
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شدیدخواہش, عزم, جاہ طلب…
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честолюбство, амбіція, прагнення…
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цель, целеустремленность…
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ఆశయం, ఆభ్యుదయేచ్ఛ…
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مَطمَح, طُموح…
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উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষা, উচ্চাশা…
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ambice, cíl…
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ambisi…
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ความทะเยอทะยาน, ความปรารถนาอันแรงกล้า…
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khát vọng, tham vọng…
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ambicja…
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꿈, 야망…
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ambizione…
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ambiguity
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ambitious
ambitiously
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lifestyle
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/ˈlaɪf.staɪl/
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someone's way of living; the things that a person or particular group of people usually do
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Ambition Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Ambition Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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Est. 1828
Dictionary
Definition
noun
verb
noun
2
noun
verb
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ambition
1 of 2
noun
am·bi·tion
am-ˈbi-shən
Synonyms of ambition
1
a
: an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power
With her talent and fierce ambition, she became a very successful actress.
b
: desire to achieve a particular end
2
: the object of ambition
Her ambition is to start her own business.
3
US
: a desire for activity or exertion
felt sick and had no ambition
ambitionless
am-ˈbi-shən-ləs
adjective
ambition
2 of 2
verb
ambitioned; ambitioning; ambitions
transitive verb
: to have as one's ambition : desire
Did you know?
Ambition Has Roots in Roman Politics When candidates for public office in ancient Rome wanted to be elected, they had to do just what modern candidates must do. They had to spend most of their time going around the city urging the citizens to vote for them. The Latin word for this effort was ambitio, which came from ambire, a verb meaning “to go around.” Since this activity was caused by a desire for honor or power, the word eventually came to mean “the desire for honor or power.” This word came into French and English as ambition in the late Middle Ages. Later its meaning broadened to include “an admirable desire for advancement or improvement” and still later “the object of this desire.”
Synonyms
Noun
ambitiousness
aspiration
go-getting
See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for ambition
ambition, aspiration, pretension mean strong desire for advancement. ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.
driven by ambition
aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.
an aspiration to become president someday
pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.
has literary pretensions
Examples of ambition in a Sentence
Noun
My first ambition as a child was to be in the circus.
He lacked ambition and couldn't compete with the others.
Recent Examples on the WebNoun
Season 8 feels like a monument to flawed ambition and flailing Peak TV decadence, all massive battle scenes and brainless strategy.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024
First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell was soon driven by a singular political ambition to become majority leader.
—Susan Davis, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024
As Davis and Boring’s ambitions around Vegas grew bigger, so too did red flags raised by employees.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024
Here’s what mothers with too much aggression and ambition can do to their sons, the movie says — turn them into hollow-eyed zombies, sapped of the very autonomy that defines maleness.
—Mark Harris Keita Morimoto, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024
But Gill’s ambition is for Confide to guide people down a different path.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 26 Feb. 2024
The kingdom’s ambition to lead in renewable energy and AI was clear, with initiatives aimed at positioning Saudi Arabia as a hub for innovation and sustainable development.
—Mark Minevich, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
Yet its ambition and spectacle are hard to dismiss.
—Chris Nashawaty, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2024
Executives face the frustrating disconnect between ambition and execution, with teams entangled in competing priorities and internal resistance.
—Forrester, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Verb
But the Kushners’ empire, like Trump’s, was underwritten by years of dealing in much more modestly ambitioned properties.
—Alec MacGillis/propublica, New York Times, 23 May 2017
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ambition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English ambicioun, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French ambicion, borrowed from Latin ambitiōn-, ambitiō "act of soliciting for votes, running for public office, striving after popularity, desire for advancement," from ambīre "to encircle, visit in rotation, solicit (political support), seek to obtain" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at ambient entry 1
Verb
derivative of ambition entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb
1601, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of ambition was
in the 14th century
See more words from the same century
Phrases Containing ambition
life's ambition
Dictionary Entries Near ambition
ambit
ambition
ambitious
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Merriam-Webster
“Ambition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambition. Accessed 10 Mar. 2024.
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Kids Definition
ambition
noun
am·bi·tion
am-ˈbish-ən
1
a
: an eager desire for social standing, fame, or power
b
: desire to achieve a particular goal : aspiration
2
: the particular goal of ambition
Etymology
Noun
Middle English ambition "desire for power," from early French ambition (same meaning), derived from Latin ambire "to go around," from ambi- "around" and ire "to go"
Word Origin
When political candidates in ancient Rome wanted to be elected, they had to do what modern candidates must do. They had to spend their time going around the city urging the citizens to vote for them. The Latin word for this effort was ambitio, which came from ambire, a verb meaning "to go around." Since this "ambition" was caused by a desire for honor or power, the word eventually came to mean "the desire for honor or power." This word came into French and English as ambition in the late Middle Ages. Later its meaning broadened to include "an admirable desire for advancement or improvement" and still later "the object of this desire."
More from Merriam-Webster on ambition
Nglish: Translation of ambition for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ambition for Arabic Speakers
Last Updated:
3 Mar 2024
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AMBITION Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com
GamesDaily CrosswordWord PuzzleWord FinderAll gamesFeaturedWord of the DaySynonym of the DayWord of the YearNew wordsLanguage storiesAll featuredPop cultureSlangEmojiMemesAcronymsGender and sexualityAll pop cultureWriting tipsGrammar Coach™Writing hubGrammar essentialsCommonly confusedAll writing tipsGamesFeaturedPop cultureWriting tipsambition[ am-bish-uhn ]show ipaSee synonyms for: ambitionambitions on Thesaurus.comnounan 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.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.See moreverb (used with object)to seek after earnestly; aspire to.Origin of ambition1First 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- -ionOther words for ambition1 aspiration, yearning, longing 2 goal, aim 3 drive, forceSee synonyms for ambition on Thesaurus.comOther words from ambitionam·bi·tion·less, adjectiveam·bi·tion·less·ly, adverbpre·am·bi·tion, nounsu·per·am·bi·tion, nounWords Nearby ambitionambisinisterambisonicsambisyllabicambitambitendencyambitionambitiousambivalenceambivalentambivalent sexismambiversionDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024How to use ambition in a sentencePelosi had resisted demands from moderates in her caucus to narrow her ambitions or put a new bill on the floor, insisting that Republicans should be the ones to offer new concessions.Pelosi abruptly shifts course, restarts relief push amid signs economy is straining | Erica Werner, Rachael Bade | September 24, 2020 | Washington PostHowever, its near term target of peaking emissions before 2030 is unaltered and it is this near term ambition that counts….Experts praise China’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2060—but more could be done | eamonbarrett | September 24, 2020 | FortuneThis was the central ambition of a number of no-longer-existing startups over 10 years ago.Google boosting visibility of ‘nearby’ product inventory with new Shopping features | Greg Sterling | September 16, 2020 | Search Engine LandThe program, which is an expansion of one Walmart began testing last year for free grocery delivery, is another signal of the retailer’s growing e-commerce ambitions.America’s largest retailer is taking on Amazon Prime | Marc Bain | September 4, 2020 | QuartzIf ambition doesn’t inhabit you, you wonder what all the hubbub is about.Bethenny Frankel Reveals Why She’s an ‘Animal’ | Eugene Robinson | September 2, 2020 | OzyThe other narrative is of mobility in the service of ambition.Will Texas Stay Texan? | David Fontana | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTheir authors promise that your spirit will be improved, your ambition honed, and your finances maximized by their advice.Can Self-Help Books Really Make a New You? | Lizzie Crocker | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd it led him in his teenage years to declare his ambition to become a cop.In The Shadow of Murdered Cops | Michael Daly | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTReid planted a flag, ready to make his mark in the world of whisky, backed by ambition and a gorgeous piece of land.Ester Elchies, The Estate Built By Whiskey | | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe made little secret of his ambition to become the next prime minister, much to the chagrin of Netanyahu.Goodbye to Israel’s Lousy Government (Let’s Hope the Next One Isn’t Worse) | Alon Ben-Meir | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTGreater mischiefs happen often from folly, meanness, and vanity than from the greater sins of avarice and ambition.Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. BallouTo talk German was beyond the sweep of my dizziest ambition, but an Italian runner or porter instantly presented himself.Glances at Europe | Horace GreeleyHe went on, ruminating on the vain shadow, into which his over-heated ambition to act and to be distinguished, had involved him.The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterSo far Murat had always held subordinate commands; his great ambition was to become the commander-in-chief of an independent army.Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonNoble ambition—worthy of a less ignoble cause—a better fate!Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV. | VariousSee More ExamplesBritish Dictionary definitions for ambitionambition/ (æmˈbɪʃən) /nounstrong desire for success, achievement, or distinctionsomething so desired; goal; aimOrigin of ambition1C14: from Old French, from Latin ambitiō a going round (of candidates), a striving to please, from ambīre to go round; see ambitCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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AMBITION Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
AMBITION Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
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Est. 1828
Thesaurus
Synonyms of ambition
as in aspiration
as in initiative
as in goal
as in aspirationas in initiativeas in goal
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ambition
noun
Definition of ambition
1
as in aspiration
eager desire for personal advancement
"Talent without ambition will not make you a star," the singer's voice coach liked to remind her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
aspiration
determination
motivation
ambitiousness
opportunism
initiative
energy
greed
competitiveness
passion
go-getting
industry
aggression
diligence
push
enterprise
hustle
drive
eagerness
daring
assertiveness
spirit
avarice
go
killer instinct
pretentiousness
hunger
avidity
ardor
pushiness
keenness
overambitiousness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
indifference
apathy
unconcern
inertia
lethargy
laziness
indolence
idleness
halfheartedness
sloth
shiftlessness
See More
2
as in initiative
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
the ambition shown by the undersea explorers of the Mariana Trench, the deepest in the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
initiative
action
drive
enterprise
spirit
aggressiveness
vigor
hustle
grit
energy
go
gumption
pluck
ambitiousness
spunk
assertiveness
starch
self-reliance
killer instinct
vitality
pep
hardihood
overambitiousness
snap
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
inertia
passivity
reluctance
inactivity
timidity
diffidence
hesitation
lethargy
laziness
indolence
faintheartedness
See More
3
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
his ambition is to study international business, then get a job overseas
Synonyms & Similar Words
goal
purpose
plan
aim
intention
intent
idea
objective
dream
object
thing
aspiration
meaning
design
target
ideal
point
end
pretension
project
desire
mark
hope
name of the game
bourn
bourne
scheme
mind
wish
plot
destination
grail
holy grail
nirvana
terminus
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
means
way
method
Synonym Chooser
How is the word ambition different from other nouns like it?
The words aspiration and pretension are common synonyms of ambition. While all three words mean "strong desire for advancement," ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.
driven by ambition
When would aspiration be a good substitute for ambition?
Although the words aspiration and ambition have much in common, aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.
an aspiration to become president someday
In what contexts can pretension take the place of ambition?
In some situations, the words pretension and ambition are roughly equivalent. However, pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.
has literary pretensions
Thesaurus Entries Near ambition
ambit
ambition
ambitionless
See More Nearby Entries
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“Ambition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambition. Accessed 10 Mar. 2024.
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Nglish: Translation of ambition for Spanish Speakers
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AMBITION | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary
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Learner’s Dictionary
Meaning of ambition – Learner’s Dictionary
ambitionnoun uk
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/æmˈbɪʃən/ us
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ambition noun
(HOPE)
Add to word list
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B1 something you want to achieve in your life: My ambition is to retire at forty.
More examplesFewer examplesto achieve an ambitionBeing here is the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition.Her ambition is ultimately to run her own company.He had realized all his ambitions by the age of 30.
ambition noun
(FEELING)
B2 a strong feeling that you want to be successful or powerful: My sister always had more ambition than me. ruthless ambition
(Definition of ambition from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Translations of ambition
in Chinese (Traditional)
抱負, 志向, 雄心…
See more
in Chinese (Simplified)
抱负, 志向, 雄心…
See more
in Spanish
ambición, ambición [feminine]…
See more
in Portuguese
ambição, ambição [feminine], objetivo [masculine]…
See more
in more languages
in Marathi
in Japanese
in Turkish
in French
in Catalan
in Dutch
in Tamil
in Hindi
in Gujarati
in Danish
in Swedish
in Malay
in German
in Norwegian
in Urdu
in Ukrainian
in Russian
in Telugu
in Arabic
in Bengali
in Czech
in Indonesian
in Thai
in Vietnamese
in Polish
in Korean
in Italian
काहीतरी साध्य करण्याची तीव्र इच्छा, महत्वाकांक्षा, यशस्वी…
See more
念願, 大志, 野心…
See more
hırs, tutku, ihtiras…
See more
ambition [feminine], ambition…
See more
ambició…
See more
eerzucht, ambitie…
See more
எதையாவது சாதிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற வலுவான ஆசை, வெற்றிகரமான, சக்திவாய்ந்த…
See more
महत्वाकांक्षा, (कामयाब, ताकतवर…
See more
મહત્વાકાંક્ષા, પ્રબળ ઈચ્છા, સફળ…
See more
ambition, ærgærrighed…
See more
ärelystnad, ambition, strävan…
See more
cita-cita…
See more
der Ehrgeiz, die Ambition…
See more
ambisjoner [masculine, plural], ærgjerrighet [masculine]…
See more
شدیدخواہش, عزم, جاہ طلب…
See more
честолюбство, амбіція, прагнення…
See more
цель, целеустремленность…
See more
ఆశయం, ఆభ్యుదయేచ్ఛ…
See more
مَطمَح, طُموح…
See more
উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষা, উচ্চাশা…
See more
ambice, cíl…
See more
ambisi…
See more
ความทะเยอทะยาน, ความปรารถนาอันแรงกล้า…
See more
khát vọng, tham vọng…
See more
ambicja…
See more
꿈, 야망…
See more
ambizione…
See more
Need a translator?
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Translator tool
Browse
amber
ambience
ambiguity
ambiguous
ambition
ambitious
ambivalent
amble
ambulance
More Learner's Dictionary definitions for ambition
All
burning ambition/desire, etc
fulfil an ambition/dream/goal, etc
realize an ambition/dream/goal, etc
See all meanings
Word of the Day
lifestyle
UK
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/ˈlaɪf.staɪl/
US
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/ˈlaɪf.staɪl/
someone's way of living; the things that a person or particular group of people usually do
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Contents
Learner’s Dictionary
Noun
ambition (HOPE)
ambition (FEELING)
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Grammar
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AMBITION | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
AMBITION | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
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English
Meaning of ambition in English
ambitionnoun us
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/æmˈbɪʃ.ən/ uk
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/æmˈbɪʃ.ən/
Add to word list
Add to word list
B1 [ C ] a strong wish to achieve something: [ + to infinitive ] His ambition is ultimately to run his own business. He has already achieved his main ambition in life - to become wealthy. political ambitions She doubts whether she'll ever be able to fulfill her ambition. I've always had a burning (= very great) ambition to be a movie director. After his heart attack, he abandoned his ambition to become prime minister. Synonyms
aim (INTENTION)
aspiration (HOPE)
dream (HOPE)
goal (AIM)
hope
intent formal or specialized
intention
object (PURPOSE)
objective
target (AIM)
B2 [ U ] a strong wish to be successful, powerful, rich, etc.: She has a lot of ambition.
More examplesFewer examplesHer ambition and dogged determination ensured that she rose to the top of her profession.We are looking for someone with drive and ambition.Driving ambition is what most great leaders have in common.Being here is the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition.She finally achieved her ambition to visit South America.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Goals and purposes
affordance
avail
cause
dedicated
deflect
deliverable
dream
eye
key performance indicator
KPI
moonshot
objective
point
poodle
target
thought
toward
undedicated
undirected
unfocused
See more results »
(Definition of ambition from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
ambition | Intermediate English
ambitionnoun [ C/U ] us
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/æmˈbɪʃ·ən/
Add to word list
Add to word list
a strong desire for success, achievement, power, or wealth: [ C ] His presidential ambitions were frustrated in the 1980s. [ U ] No one ever accused him of lacking ambition.
(Definition of ambition from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
ambition | Business English
ambitionnoun uk
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/æmˈbɪʃən/ us
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Add to word list
Add to word list
[ C ] a strong wish to achieve a particular thing: ambition to do sth After his heart attack, he abandoned his ambition to become CEO.achieve/fulfil/realize your ambition He has already achieved his main ambition in life - to become rich.ultimate/long-term ambition Her ultimate ambition is to run her own business. career ambitions. political/personal/artistic ambitions
[ U ] a strong wish to be successful: She's got a lot of ambition. I felt he lacked the ambition to succeed in showbusiness.
(Definition of ambition from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Examples of ambition
ambition
One of the hip-hop superstar's claims to fame is his lofty artistic ambition, which renders his current performances distinct and invigorating.
From MLive.com
The reason, according to the report, was related to the program's ambition, size and speed.
From Los Angeles Times
Do you have wider ambitions than collecting and stockpiling information?
From The Atlantic
The challenge it takes to successfully juggle a job, finances, family, and a personal life with your goals, drive and ambitions.
From Huffington Post
Ambition and drive are great, but so are setting realistic expectations and maintaining sanity.
From Huffington Post
He recommends complimenting attributes such as having your own mind, standing up for your beliefs, showing initiative, and having goals and ambitions.
From Huffington Post
What can then explain the control ambition has over me today?
From TechCrunch
On the other hand he demands that governments open the doors to opportunity for every citizen to develop his or her talents and ambitions.
From Huffington Post
Ambition drives people forward; relationships and community, by imposing limits, hold people back.
From The Atlantic
But how can you not, if your ambition is not to merely model a look but to represent the only soul you have?
From Slate Magazine
The press flew into a frenzy, and some pundits deemed the remark an unseemly display of ambition.
From TIME
Raise helps students pursue their college ambitions with confidence and adds transparency to the scholarships process.
From TechCrunch
It is but one part of our ambition to help our region continue to advance as one of the country's top hotbeds for innovation.
From The Seattle Times
He's the rare filmmaker with the ambition to make great statements on a grand scale, and the vision and guts to realize them.
From TIME
And let's face it, mentor and mentee, torn apart by ambition -- that's the stuff of legend, right there.
From Huffington Post
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Collocations with ambition
ambition
These are words often used in combination with ambition. Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.
artistic ambitionHowever, since the next paragraph again shows, this de-spatialisation nevertheless led to the birth of a new artistic ambition.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
career ambitionThe report focuses on the comparison between career ambition and eventual destination, presenting this in the framework of career identities.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
lack of ambitionIts lack of imagination and lack of ambition are amazing.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
See all collocations with ambition
What is the pronunciation of ambition?
B1,B2
Translations of ambition
in Chinese (Traditional)
抱負, 志向, 雄心…
See more
in Chinese (Simplified)
抱负, 志向, 雄心…
See more
in Spanish
ambición, ambición [feminine]…
See more
in Portuguese
ambição, ambição [feminine], objetivo [masculine]…
See more
in more languages
in Marathi
in Japanese
in Turkish
in French
in Catalan
in Dutch
in Tamil
in Hindi
in Gujarati
in Danish
in Swedish
in Malay
in German
in Norwegian
in Urdu
in Ukrainian
in Russian
in Telugu
in Arabic
in Bengali
in Czech
in Indonesian
in Thai
in Vietnamese
in Polish
in Korean
in Italian
काहीतरी साध्य करण्याची तीव्र इच्छा, महत्वाकांक्षा, यशस्वी…
See more
念願, 大志, 野心…
See more
hırs, tutku, ihtiras…
See more
ambition [feminine], ambition…
See more
ambició…
See more
eerzucht, ambitie…
See more
எதையாவது சாதிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற வலுவான ஆசை, வெற்றிகரமான, சக்திவாய்ந்த…
See more
महत्वाकांक्षा, (कामयाब, ताकतवर…
See more
મહત્વાકાંક્ષા, પ્રબળ ઈચ્છા, સફળ…
See more
ambition, ærgærrighed…
See more
ärelystnad, ambition, strävan…
See more
cita-cita…
See more
der Ehrgeiz, die Ambition…
See more
ambisjoner [masculine, plural], ærgjerrighet [masculine]…
See more
شدیدخواہش, عزم, جاہ طلب…
See more
честолюбство, амбіція, прагнення…
See more
цель, целеустремленность…
See more
ఆశయం, ఆభ్యుదయేచ్ఛ…
See more
مَطمَح, طُموح…
See more
উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষা, উচ্চাশা…
See more
ambice, cíl…
See more
ambisi…
See more
ความทะเยอทะยาน, ความปรารถนาอันแรงกล้า…
See more
khát vọng, tham vọng…
See more
ambicja…
See more
꿈, 야망…
See more
ambizione…
See more
Need a translator?
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Translator tool
Browse
ambiguity
ambiguous
ambiguously
ambit
ambition
ambitious
ambitiously
ambivalence
ambivalent
More meanings of ambition
All
vaulting ambition phrase
vaulting ambition
See all meanings
Idioms and phrases
vaulting ambition phrase
Word of the Day
lifestyle
UK
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/ˈlaɪf.staɪl/
US
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈlaɪf.staɪl/
someone's way of living; the things that a person or particular group of people usually do
About this
Blog
Forget doing it or forget to do it? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns (2)
March 06, 2024
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stochastic parrot
March 04, 2024
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ambition noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
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Definition of ambition noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
ambition noun /æmˈbɪʃn/ /æmˈbɪʃn/
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[countable] something that you want to do or achieve very muchShe had fulfilled her lifelong ambition.His burning ambition was to study medicine.political/artistic/career ambitionsAt last he had realized his life's ambition.He had only one ambition in life.the country's nuclear ambitions (= plans to develop nuclear weapons) ambition of being/doing something She never achieved her ambition of becoming a famous writer.Extra ExamplesThis is a tale of jealousy and thwarted ambitions.He felt great resentment at having his ambition frustrated.the company's global ambitionsHer biggest ambition was to climb Everest.Topics Successb1Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjectivebigburningdriving…verb + ambitioncherishharbour/harborhave…See full entry
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[uncountable] the desire or strength of mind to be successful, rich, powerful, etc.She was driven by personal ambition.She was intelligent but suffered from a lack of ambition.Extra ExamplesHis friends would never describe him as a man of great ambition.He was a young man with the ambition to succeed in his chosen career.She's a woman of driving ambition.He has no ambition.Topics Successb1Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjectivedrivinggreatnaked…verb + ambitionhavelackambition + verbburnSee full entry Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin ambitio(n-), from ambire ‘go around (canvassing for votes)’.See ambition in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee ambition in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation:
ambition
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