Word: Ambition
Part of Speech: Noun
Pronunciation: am-bish-ən
Category: General
Ambition Definition
Ambition is a strong desire for success, achievement, or distinction and the willingness to strive for it. It is the state of setting a goal and aspiring to achieve it.
Usage Notes
Often used positively to denote drive and initiative, but can also imply selfishness or a disregard for others.
Example Sentences
- He had the ambition to start his own business.
- She showed her ambition by studying late into the night.
- He has no political ambitions.
- Her ambition is to play in the Olympics.
- He has a lot of ambition.
- Their ambitions for her were to become a doctor.
Synonyms (Similar Words)
Antonyms (Opposite Words)
Idioms and Phrases
- Rise above one's station – To improve one's social status through ambition
- Climb the corporate ladder – To ambitiously pursue promotions within a company
- Shoot for the moon – To set high ambitions
- Bite off more than one can chew – To set an ambition that is too difficult to achieve
- The sky's the limit – There is no limit to one's ambitions
Word Origin and History
Late Middle English: via Old French from Latin ambitio(n-), from ambire ‘go around (canvassing for votes)’.