ambition
am-BIHSH-uhn
Ambition (noun) means a strong desire to achieve success, power, or a particular goal. Example: “Her ambition drove her to work late every night until she was promoted.”
noun
1
A strong desire to achieve success, power, or a particular goal.
"Her ambition drove her to work late every night until she was promoted."
"Her ambition was to become a surgeon by the age of thirty."
"The company's ambition is to double revenue within five years."
2
A specific goal or objective that someone wants to achieve.
"His greatest ambition was to write a novel before he retired."
"One of her ambitions is to visit every continent."
"Running a marathon had always been one of his ambitions."
How to use ambition
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA strong drive to succeed or reach a goal, or the goal itself.
Common pairings
lifelong ambition
lack ambition
fulfil an ambition
burning ambition
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like ambition.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- ambitions
- Third person singular
- ambitions
- Past tense
- ambitioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ drove her to work late every night until she was promoted.
Etymology
From Latin ambitio, literally "a going around" — originally describing candidates in Rome canvassing for votes.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ambition
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for ambition →
Frequently asked questions
What does “ambition” mean?
The word “ambition” means a strong desire to achieve success, power, or a particular goal. In plain terms, a strong drive to succeed or reach a goal, or the goal itself.
How do you pronounce “ambition”?
“Ambition” is pronounced am-BIHSH-uhn (/æmˈbɪʃ.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “ambition” in a sentence?
Here is “ambition” used in a sentence: “Her ambition was to become a surgeon by the age of thirty.”
What part of speech is “ambition”?
“Ambition” is a noun.
Where does the word “ambition” come from?
The word “ambition” comes from Latin. From Latin ambitio, literally "a going around" — originally describing candidates in Rome canvassing for votes.
Is “ambition” a common word?
“Ambition” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “ambition” have?
“Ambition” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong desire to achieve success, power, or a particular goal.
What is the difference between ambition and aspiration?
Ambition is a strong, driving desire to achieve success, power, or a goal, and can suggest determination or hunger. Aspiration is a hope or aim, usually gentler and less forceful in tone.
What is the difference between an ambition and a goal?
A goal is a specific, concrete objective you set out to reach, while ambition is the underlying drive to achieve. Note that ambition can itself name a particular aim, as in "her ambition is to become a doctor."
Is ambition a positive or a negative quality?
It can be either, depending on context. Ambition often praises drive and determination, but it can also imply ruthlessness when someone pursues success at others' expense.
Which preposition is used with ambition?
Ambition is commonly followed by "to" plus a verb, as in "an ambition to travel," or by "of," as in "the ambition of winning." Both patterns are standard.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include ambition:
