ambush

The word “ambush” means a surprise attack launched from a hidden position. In plain terms, a surprise attack from hiding, or to launch one — it can also be used figuratively for catching someone off guard with a tough question.

“Ambush” is pronounced AM-buush (/ˈæm.bʊʃ/ in IPA).

Here is “ambush” used in a sentence: “The patrol walked straight into an ambush on the mountain road.”

Depending on how it is used, “ambush” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “ambush” comes from Old French. From Old French embuschier, "to hide in a wood," built from the Frankish word for bush — the same root that gives us "bouquet.".

“Ambush” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Ambush” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a surprise attack launched from a hidden position.

An ambush specifically involves attackers hiding in a concealed position and waiting for a target to come to them, whereas a general surprise attack can happen without that element of concealment or waiting. The defining feature of an ambush is the hidden position from which the attack is launched.

As a verb, "to ambush" someone means to hide and wait for them in order to attack by surprise, as in "the soldiers ambushed the convoy." It is a transitive verb, meaning it always takes a direct object naming who or what is attacked.