ambitionam‧bi‧tion /æmˈbɪʃən/ ●●○ W3 noun 
She had always had an ambition to be a pilot.somebody’s ambitions of doing something An injury ended his ambitions of becoming a professional footballer.► see thesaurus at aim2[uncountable] determination to be successful, rich, powerful etc: He was young and full of ambition.3have no ambition to do something used when saying that you definitely do not want to do something: I have no ambition to go back there again.GRAMMAR: Patterns with ambition• You say that someone’s ambition is to do something: · His ambition is to become a doctor.• You can also say that someone has the ambition of doing something: · He has the ambition of becoming a doctor.• You can also say that someone has an ambition to do something. This pattern is often used when talking about the past: · He had always had an ambition to become a doctor.COLLOCATIONS– Meanings 1 & 2verbssomebody’s ambition is to be/do something· My ambition was to be a journalist.have an ambition· He had an ambition to be a top cello player.achieve/fulfil/realize your ambition (=do what you wanted to do)· It took her ten years to achieve her ambition.· He was prepared to go to any lengths to fulfil his ambition.· I want to thank all those who made it possible for me to realize a lifetime’s ambition.lack ambition/have no ambition· Many of the students lack ambition.nurse/harbour/cherish an ambition (=have it for a long time, especially secretly)· He had nursed an ambition to become a writer for many years.frustrate/thwart somebody’s ambitions formal (=prevent someone from achieving them)· The weather threatened to frustrate their ambitions.· Her lifelong ambitions had been thwarted again and again.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ambitionsomebody’s main ambition· What’s your main ambition in life?somebody’s great ambition· He didn’t achieve his greatest ambition – to be Wimbledon Champion.a lifelong/long-held ambition (=one that you have had all your life)· It’s been her lifelong ambition to work with horses.a personal ambition· Crossing the Sahara was a personal ambition of mine.a secret ambition· His secret ambition was to become a pilot.a burning/driving ambition (=a very strong ambition)· She had a burning ambition to become a racing car driver.career ambitions· The course is designed to help you achieve your career ambitions.political/presidential ambitions· His political ambitions were put on hold while he waited for a suitable opportunity.phrasessomebody’s dreams and ambitions· He told her all about his dreams and ambitions.somebody’s lack of ambition· I was frustrated by their apparent lack of ambition.be full of ambition· She was full of ambition when she joined the company.
WORD ORIGINambition
Origin:
1300-1400 Latin ambitio, from ambire; ➔ AMBIENTEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Your problem," said Arthur, "is that you have no ambition."
- Earlier this year, he achieved his ambition of competing in the Olympic games.
- Eric wasn't particularly intelligent but he had plenty of ambition.
- Getting to the top hadn't been easy, in spite of his burning ambition and will to succeed.
- Her ambition was to go to law school and become an attorney.
- Kasich is thought to have grand political ambitions.
- My teachers always told me that I lacked ambition, and would never get anywhere.
- What can you do with a kid who has no ambition?
- But his ambition had its limits.
- But I do think as long as you've got ambitions in life you can do anything you want.
- But the shamelessness of her ambition was nothing compared with Farin a's.
- I hardly dared formulate my ambition to myself.
- She had early ambitions to be a marine biologist, and always claimed that lack of formal educational opportunity prevented her.
- The words came over clearly but cautiously: Leslie Brent was denied his ambition to be a cook.
- Unfortunately, his skills and ambition have not yielded any meaningful understanding of the region.
- Yeltsin fumed at questions of whether the nuclear summit and surrounding meetings were tailored to his political ambitions.
THESAURUS
something you hope to achieve by doing something: · The main aim of the plan was to provide employment for local people.
something important that you hope to achieve in the future, even though it may take a long time: · The country can still achieve its goal of reducing poverty by a third.
a particular amount or total that you want to achieve: · The company is on track to meet its target of increasing profits by 10%.
the specific thing that you are trying to achieve – used especially about things that have been officially discussed and agreed upon in business, politics etc: · Their main objective is to halt the flow of drugs.· We met to set the business objectives for the coming year.
something that you very much want to achieve in your future career: · Her ambition was to go to law school and become an attorney.· Earlier this year, he achieved his ambition of competing in the Olympic Games.
something that you want to do something very special that you want to do and that you think about a lot, especially something that is not very likely to happen: · As a teenager, his dream was to become a professional footballer.
something that you want to achieve and that you work hard to achieve, especially in your work: · My ambition had always been to start my own business.
the important things that people want from their lives – used especially about the things a society or a large group of people wants: · It’s important that young people think seriously about their career aspirations.
something exciting that you imagine happening to you, which is extremely unlikely to happen and often involves sex: · schoolboy fantasies
a dream that is impossible or is extremely unlikely to happen: · Is world peace no more than a pipe dream?
Longman Language Activatorremaining or continuing forever determined to be successful and to become rich, powerful, or famous: · Hutchings, like many ambitious young lawyers, became interested in politics.· The main candidate for the position is Robert Lutz, age 59, an ambitious former Ford Motor Co. executive.· Women have to be more ambitious than men if they want to get anywhere in the business world.
determination to be successful and to become rich, powerful, or famous: · Eric wasn't particularly intelligent but he had plenty of ambition.· "Your problem," said Arthur, "is that you have no ambition."
very determined to get power and control in business or politics even if you harm other people by doing this: · Most politicians are power-hungry people who serve only themselves.· The article described the company's vice-president, Victor Rowan, as deceitful and power-hungry.
informal someone who is very ambitious and hard-working, in a way that you admire: · George was a go-getter; he wasn't afraid to take a risk.somebody's a real go-getter: · You can't help admiring Debbie -- she's a real go-getter.
determined to be more successful than other people in work, sport etc: · Beth's very competitive, even with her friends.fiercely/intensely competitive (=very competitive): · Fiercely competitive at all times, Ravi is a difficult man to work with.
the ability to be determined the ability to continue trying to achieve what you want, even when this is difficult: · After the accident, Bill learned to walk again through sheer hard work and determination.determination to do something: · A spokesman stressed the police's determination to find the girl's killer.dogged determination (=strong determination): · Success requires dogged determination, as well as ability.
determination to become successful, rich, powerful, or famous: · Eric wasn't particularly intelligent but he had plenty of ambition.· My teachers always told me that I lacked ambition, and would never get anywhere.burning ambition: · Getting to the top hadn't been easy, in spite of his burning ambition and will to succeed.
the ability to control your mind and body in order to achieve whatever you decide to do: · It takes a lot of willpower to give up smoking.by/through sheer willpower (=by willpower alone): · She made herself get better by sheer willpower, when everyone else had given up hope.
the strong desire to do or achieve something: the will to live/recover/get better, etc: · When her husband died, she seemed to lose the will to live.the will to do something: · They weren't the best side in the European Cup, but they possessed the will to win.
formal a strong determination to succeed in doing something especially because you are sure that it is a good thing to do: somebody's resolve to do something: · He restated his firm resolve to become president, and achieve clean and honest government.strengthen/harden/stiffen somebody's resolve (=make it stronger): · The latest unemployment figures should strengthen the government's resolve to do something about it.
the determination and energy that makes you successfully achieve something: · Without my mother's drive and energy, our family would have starved.· He's clever enough, but he lacks drive.
the courage and energy that someone shows when they are determined to achieve something or determined not to let a difficult situation make them stop trying: · The fact that they reached the semi-final is a reflection of their spirit and commitment.fighting spirit (=brave determination to keep trying or fighting in a difficult situation): · She never once thought of giving up. Everyone admired her fighting spirit.break somebody's spirit (=make them lose their determination to fight, be brave etc): · The hours of interrogations and beatings were designed to break his spirit.
the ability to keep on trying to achieve something over a long period, even when this is difficult: · The job requires perseverance and, above all, patience.perseverance to do something: · Some of the girls did not have the perseverance to train to his standards of precision.
formal the determination to never stop trying to succeed in something or to allow anyone to stop you from doing something: · I admired him for his tenacity and his courage in confronting problems that other people might avoid.show/exhibit tenacity: · The tenacity and ingenuity shown by these women's groups during the war was remarkable.
something that you want to achieve in your life something very special that you want to do and that you think about a lot, especially something that is not very likely to happen: somebody's dream is to do something: · Her dream was to go to Hollywood and become a movie star.dream of doing something: · After the accident, Clarke had to give up his dream of becoming a racing driver.somebody's dream comes true (=they finally do what they want): · Last year her dream came true and she was offered a chance to study in America.
something which you want to achieve in the future, especially in your work, and which you will try hard to achieve: somebody's ambition is to do something: · Her ambition was to go to law school and become an attorney.achieve/fulfil your ambition (=finally do what you wanted to do): · Earlier this year, he achieved his ambition of competing in the Olympic games.
something important that a person, company, or government hopes to achieve in the future, even though it may take a long time: achieve/reach a goal: · By 1975, they had achieved their goal of providing free education for every child.somebody's goal is to do something: · Our goal is to become the biggest-selling brand of coffee in the country.short-term goal/long-term goal (=one that you hope to achieve soon/a long time in the future): · I took a job as a teacher with the long-term goal of becoming a principal of a school.
a particular amount or total that you want to achieve, for example an amount of products you must sell or produce: · We produced 16,000 cars this year, but our target was 17,500.achieve/reach/meet a target: · The Government is struggling to reach its target of $23 billion in spending cuts.set (somebody) a target (=say what the target is): · I set myself a target of learning 20 new words each week.
a word meaning the important things that people want from their lives, used especially when you are talking about all of society or large groups within it: · A government should reflect the hopes, values and aspirations of society.· the aspirations of the people of Eastern Europeaspirations for: · What are our aspirations for the future?· The parents have very high aspirations for their children.career/democratic/economic/political etc aspirations: · a handsome and rich young senator with presidential aspirationshigh aspirations: · The immigrants who came to settle in America were determined people with high aspirations.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meanings 1 & 2verbs Being deaf hasn’t stopped Karen fulfilling her ambition to be a hairdresser. David finally realized his lifelong ambition. For years he had nursed a grievance against his former employer. She never realized her ambition of winning an Olympic gold medal.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· My ambition was to be a journalist.
· He had an ambition to be a top cello player.
(=do what you wanted to do)· It took her ten years to achieve her ambition.· He was prepared to go to any lengths to fulfil his ambition.· I want to thank all those who made it possible for me to realize a lifetime’s ambition.
· Many of the students lack ambition.
(=have it for a long time, especially secretly)· He had nursed an ambition to become a writer for many years.
formal (=prevent someone from achieving them)· The weather threatened to frustrate their ambitions.· Her lifelong ambitions had been thwarted again and again.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ambition· What’s your main ambition in life?
· He didn’t achieve his greatest ambition – to be Wimbledon Champion.
(=one that you have had all your life)· It’s been her lifelong ambition to work with horses.
· Crossing the Sahara was a personal ambition of mine.
· His secret ambition was to become a pilot.
(=a very strong ambition)· She had a burning ambition to become a racing car driver.
· The course is designed to help you achieve your career ambitions.
· His political ambitions were put on hold while he waited for a suitable opportunity.
phrases· He told her all about his dreams and ambitions.
· I was frustrated by their apparent lack of ambition.
· She was full of ambition when she joined the company.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Being deaf hasn’t stopped Karen fulfilling her ambition to be a hairdresser. David finally realized his lifelong ambition. For years he had nursed a grievance against his former employer.· David left the company to pursue his political ambitions.
She never realized her ambition of winning an Olympic gold medal.· But her annoyance over the pictures could not distract Catherine from her latest - and biggest - ambition.· The speech marked Ventura's decision to withdraw into Minnesota politics following his unsuccessful flirtations with bigger ambitions.· But the ski instructress died trying to fulfill her biggest ambition - to visit the Everest base camp.· Angelopoulos has made an indulgent, at times breathtaking film with big ambitions.· Tall, dark, handsome and eloquent, our hero cuts a dashing figure in the little city with big ambitions.
· His own unashamed, burning ambition is' to make money.· Bruce was a short, stocky man with red hair and a burning ambition.· You see, she had this burning ambition to succeed on the stage.· But they didn't reckon with her burning ambition to win a third time.· It hadn't been an easy task, and in spite of his burning ambition and will to succeed.· To achieve that status, a player needs - besides a natural talent - a burning inner ambition.· He had no burning ambition to climb to the upper reaches of management in those early days, however.· It was this burning ambition that I took with me into 1986.
· He had believed that a country girl like her would find him wonderful, a college man with great ambitions.· Yet it really happened and I deeply appreciate his articulation of my greatest ambition as a baker.· So do not be disappointed if you fail to receive a windfall or secure your greatest ambition.· Ivan Lendl will not achieve his last great ambition - to be Wimbledon Singles Champion. 8.· But even his critics admit that he is not a man of great ambition.· But events in the region had offended the West's democratic sensibilities and aroused fears of greater Soviet ambitions.· His greatest ambition was to be Chancellor of the Exchequer.· You could achieve your greatest ambition, Mikhail - space, the stars.
· None the less, his tennis has high ambitions.· This is a high ambition for a book targeted at the general reader.· It is often the case that the highest ambitions can be born in the darkest days of defeat.
· It's taken artist, Chris Fiddes, 60 days to complete, the realisation of a lifelong ambition.· She says it's been a lifelong ambition to work with horses.· Stephen admits he's unlikely to realise his lifelong ambition of playing for Aston Villa.· In 1990, however, David finally realised his lifelong ambition.
· As long as individuals are different and have personal aims, ambitions and needs they will seek to achieve those for themselves.· His background helps, perhaps, to explain his personal ambition and drive.· He feels no need to conceal his personal ambition.· The 15 Democrats left behind accused Saunders and his four Democratic supporters of putting personal ambition before principle.· Crossing the Sahara was a personal ambition and all the rules were self-made.· It's also a personal ambition to go around the circuit.· We are interested in the social implications of personal ambition, greed, anger and hatred.· Anyhow, I had no personal ambition.
· For her sake, Harry had abandoned his political ambitions, and had become a simple man of the church.· Yeltsin fumed at questions of whether the nuclear summit and surrounding meetings were tailored to his political ambitions.· The political ambitions of the working class had normally been channelled through parliamentary and constitutional routeways.· And he was that greater rarity, a Moses without political ambition.· He is just 50 and apparently at the limits of his political ambition.· This experience shaped the political ambition that led ultimately to his coup of 23 July 1952.· They say they consider him uncorrupted, and are impressed by his relative lack of political ambition.· He had political ambitions, and knew how to make friends at Tammany Hall.
· He resigned as Defence Secretary in July 1991 in order to pursue his presidential ambitions.· There are already about a dozen people with presidential ambitions.· Kemp and Gore served in Congress together and had seen their presidential ambitions sidetracked in 1988.· Mr Balladur denies presidential ambitions, but such figures are enough to turn anyone's head.· However, for this and other reasons, he renounced presidential ambitions.· Every vice president has presidential ambitions, of course.
· Belpan had little crime, no enemies, nothing worth stealing, and no territorial ambitions.· Although Britain had long had trading connections with these areas, hitherto she had had no territorial ambitions there.
VERB· He has at last achieved his ambition to look both indistinguishable and distinctive.· He had achieved his life's ambition.· Would she herself end up like that, if she achieved her ambition of becoming the managing editor of a magazine?· Ivan Lendl will not achieve his last great ambition - to be Wimbledon Singles Champion. 8.· It was not until last year that I achieved my ambition to sail there.· Five days later Vernage was to achieve his gruesome ambition to kill a policeman.
· Both books, written out of what had gradually become a burning ambition, were however nothing more than starters.
· Both books, written out of what had gradually become a burning ambition, were however nothing more than starters.· He had married a woman with burning social ambition, twenty years his junior.· But, even at 40, he still burns with ambition to dump Indy racing and make a Grand Prix come-back.
· He was driven by an enormous ambition and unrelenting ego, making him a living symbol of black self-determination.· Schuster -- is spinning out of control, driven by the mercurial ambitions of the 72-year-old Redstone.
· Maria Aznar, fulfilled his long-standing ambition to win promotion to the status of a large medium-sized country.· In part, this was because she had fulfilled her ministerial ambitions.· He offered his services to the Edinburgh Missionary Society as an overseas candidate, thus fulfilling a youthful ambition.· The male has fulfilled his ambition of bigamy at the expense of a female.· To fulfil this ambition he was prepared to go to any lengths, nomatterhow underhand or devious they might be.· While their four children were growing up, she put off fulfilling her ambition to run an antique shop of her own.· This is an excellent time of year to fulfil your ambitions!· Since then he has fulfilled many ambitions, learned new skills and tested his courage and physical fitness to the limit.
· He offered his services to the Edinburgh Missionary Society as an overseas candidate, thus fulfilling a youthful ambition.· However, some work is discretionary, taken on to fulfill ambitions or to purchase unnecessary luxuries.· While their four children were growing up, she put off fulfilling her ambition to run an antique shop of her own.· The siege had shown that, with artillery, Henry V had the capability of fulfilling his military ambition.· But the ski instructress died trying to fulfill her biggest ambition - to visit the Everest base camp.
· She questioned whether what they lacked was not ruthless ambition.· Who had said he lacked ambition?· Or will his lack of ambition drive you to distraction?· I suppose I lacked serious ambition.
· More crucial, in the president's eyes, is the fact that Se guin may be nursing other ambitions.
· He had no ambitions to play Hook and certainly not at four days' notice.· My main ambition is to play something magical on the piano.· Stephen admits he's unlikely to realise his lifelong ambition of playing for Aston Villa.
· With care, you can realise all your ambitions without lifting a finger.· Stephen admits he's unlikely to realise his lifelong ambition of playing for Aston Villa.
· All those who made it possible for me to realize a lifetime's ambition.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► vaulting ambition
1[countable] a strong desire to achieve somethingan ambition to do something- Both books, written out of what had gradually become a burning ambition, were however nothing more than starters.
- Bruce was a short, stocky man with red hair and a burning ambition.
- But they didn't reckon with her burning ambition to win a third time.
- His own unashamed, burning ambition is' to make money.
- I just have never had a burning desire to practice law.
- It hadn't been an easy task, and in spite of his burning ambition and will to succeed.
- The second time, it was a passion, a burning desire.
- You see, she had this burning ambition to succeed on the stage.
- Talented but without driving ambition, Lehmann was during his last years handicapped by Parkinson's disease.
- Thus, with each page, she becomes increasingly unattractive and vainglorious - brains and spirit corrupted by driving ambition.
She had always had an ambition to be a pilot.somebody’s ambitions of doing something An injury ended his ambitions of becoming a professional footballer.► see thesaurus at aim2[uncountable] determination to be successful, rich, powerful etc: He was young and full of ambition.3have no ambition to do something used when saying that you definitely do not want to do something: I have no ambition to go back there again.GRAMMAR: Patterns with ambition• You say that someone’s ambition is to do something: · His ambition is to become a doctor.• You can also say that someone has the ambition of doing something: · He has the ambition of becoming a doctor.• You can also say that someone has an ambition to do something. This pattern is often used when talking about the past: · He had always had an ambition to become a doctor.COLLOCATIONS– Meanings 1 & 2verbssomebody’s ambition is to be/do something· My ambition was to be a journalist.have an ambition· He had an ambition to be a top cello player.achieve/fulfil/realize your ambition (=do what you wanted to do)· It took her ten years to achieve her ambition.· He was prepared to go to any lengths to fulfil his ambition.· I want to thank all those who made it possible for me to realize a lifetime’s ambition.lack ambition/have no ambition· Many of the students lack ambition.nurse/harbour/cherish an ambition (=have it for a long time, especially secretly)· He had nursed an ambition to become a writer for many years.frustrate/thwart somebody’s ambitions formal (=prevent someone from achieving them)· The weather threatened to frustrate their ambitions.· Her lifelong ambitions had been thwarted again and again.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ambitionsomebody’s main ambition· What’s your main ambition in life?somebody’s great ambition· He didn’t achieve his greatest ambition – to be Wimbledon Champion.a lifelong/long-held ambition (=one that you have had all your life)· It’s been her lifelong ambition to work with horses.a personal ambition· Crossing the Sahara was a personal ambition of mine.a secret ambition· His secret ambition was to become a pilot.a burning/driving ambition (=a very strong ambition)· She had a burning ambition to become a racing car driver.career ambitions· The course is designed to help you achieve your career ambitions.political/presidential ambitions· His political ambitions were put on hold while he waited for a suitable opportunity.phrasessomebody’s dreams and ambitions· He told her all about his dreams and ambitions.somebody’s lack of ambition· I was frustrated by their apparent lack of ambition.be full of ambition· She was full of ambition when she joined the company.