ambient
Ambient (adj) means surrounding or existing on all sides; relating to the immediate environment. Example: “The thermostat adjusts based on the ambient temperature of the room.”
How to use ambient
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to the surrounding environment, or a genre of soft, atmospheric background music.
Word forms
more ambient comparative, ambients plural, most ambient superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The thermostat adjusts based on the _____ temperature of the room.
Etymology
From Latin ambiens, "going around", from ambire, "to go around".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ambient
Frequently asked questions
What does “ambient” mean?
The word “ambient” means surrounding or existing on all sides; relating to the immediate environment. In plain terms, relating to the surrounding environment, or a genre of soft, atmospheric background music.
How do you pronounce “ambient”?
“Ambient” is pronounced AM-bee-uhnt (/ˈæm.bi.ənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “ambient” in a sentence?
Here is “ambient” used in a sentence: “The thermostat adjusts based on the ambient temperature of the room.”
What is another word for “ambient”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ambient” include ambient music and chillout.
What part of speech is “ambient”?
Depending on how it is used, “ambient” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “ambient” come from?
The word “ambient” comes from Latin. From Latin ambiens, "going around", from ambire, "to go around".
Is “ambient” a common word?
“Ambient” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ambient” have?
“Ambient” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: surrounding or existing on all sides; relating to the immediate environment.
What is the difference between "ambient" and "atmospheric"?
"Ambient" specifically describes something surrounding or existing in the immediate environment, such as ambient light or ambient noise, while "atmospheric" more broadly suggests a mood or feeling evoked by a setting. In music, the two overlap closely, since ambient music is designed to create an atmospheric, calm background mood.
What does "ambient" mean when talking about music?
As a music genre, "ambient" refers to atmospheric, often beatless music built to create a calm, immersive mood rather than to be actively listened to. It typically favors slow-evolving textures and sound over melody or rhythm.
What is "ambient temperature" or "ambient light"?
These phrases use the adjective sense of "ambient," meaning the temperature or light level that naturally exists in the surrounding environment, rather than one that is artificially created or measured in isolation. For example, "ambient temperature" is simply the surrounding room or air temperature.
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