If you have an ambitionto do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
His ambition is to sail round the world.
He harboured ambitions of becoming a Tory MP.
Synonyms: goal, end, hope, design More Synonyms of ambition
2. uncountable noun
Ambition is the desire to be successful, rich, or powerful.
Even when I was young I never had any ambition.
...a mixture of ambition and ruthlessness.
Synonyms: enterprise, longing, drive, fire More Synonyms of ambition
ambition in British English
(æmˈbɪʃən)
noun
1.
strong desire for success, achievement, or distinction
2.
something so desired; goal; aim
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin ambitiō a going round (of candidates), a striving to please, from ambīre to go round; see ambit
ambition in American English
(æmˈbɪʃən)
noun
1.
a strong desire to gain a particular objective; specif., the drive to succeed, or to gain fame, power, wealth, etc.
2.
the objective strongly desired
verb transitive
3. Rare
to be ambitious for
Word origin
ME < OFr < L ambitio, a going around (to solicit votes) < pp. of ambire: see ambient
COBUILD Collocations
ambition
bold ambition
career ambition
grand ambition
lifelong ambition
lofty ambition
modest ambition
realistic ambition
unfulfilled ambition
Examples of 'ambition' in a sentence
ambition
You find a way to share responsibilities and free up time for a personal ambition.
The Sun (2016)
This is yet another example of political ambitions overcoming common sense.
The Sun (2017)
This could provide funds for each son and so fulfil one of his personal ambitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When he came out of the army he directed his ambition towards two goals : politics and making money.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A rare total eclipse of the moon will make your emotions a useful bit tougher and ambitions stronger.
The Sun (2016)
Either that or he should be left to fulfil his own ambition and run for president in 2020 in peace.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Saturn, planet of serious intentions, gives you the focus to learn an extra skill that will help you fulfil an ambition.
The Sun (2016)
Limits are always limits to some project or desire or ambition.
Wood, David Philosophy at the Limit (1990)
But you have to have ambitions and goals.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You are close to success with the ambition that means the most to you.
The Sun (2013)
You know which personal ambition you should focus on and which you should put on hold.
The Sun (2014)
It was thereby hoped to reduce the political ambitions of the armed forces.
Paul Preston The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution and Revenge
This transformation is possible as long as we do not harbour ambitions to reform our partner.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Will new ambitions change your world of love?
The Sun (2009)
Your intuition and ambition both get stronger.
The Sun (2014)
Yet already she has hinted that she might revive her presidential ambitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Will ambition and success change your love future?
The Sun (2013)
Yet colleagues were impressed by his grasp of detail and seeming lack of personal ambition.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Her success in finding a way out of the legal impasse will boost her wider political ambitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Most writers harbour a modest ambition for their work to live on after their deaths.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Inspiring more of you to come into the business world is an ambition of mine.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The sun climbs to the top of your chart and ambitions get stronger.
The Sun (2016)
He insisted that the surgery had not been prompted by presidential ambitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Pluto and the sun are working on your behalf so you are ready to fulfil your personal ambitions.
The Sun (2010)
You handle relationships well and can be a close couple but also encourage each other to fulfil personal ambitions.
The Sun (2009)
Do the very best drivers step over the line because they cannot see anything other than their own desires and ambitions?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
By that time, the papacy had established its territorial ambitions.
Christianity Today (2000)
They had desire and ambition, like it was the last chance of their lives.
The Sun (2013)
You stand out from the crowd, think fast and fulfil an ambition.
The Sun (2009)
Quotations
Ambition is the growth of every climeWilliam BlakeKing Edward the Third
Well is it known that ambition can creep as well as soarEdmund BurkeLetters on a Regicide Peace
Ambition, in a private man a vice, Is in a prince the virtuePhilip MassingerThe Bashful Lover
Ambition must be made to counteract ambitionJames MadisonThe Federalist Papers
Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a Heaven for?Robert BrowningAndrea del Sarto
The glorious fault of angels and godsAlexander PopeElegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady
Every eel hopes to become a whale
In other languages
ambition
British English: ambition /æmˈbɪʃən/ NOUN
If you have an ambition to achieve something, you want very much to achieve it.
His ambition is to sail round the world.
American English: ambition
Arabic: طُموح
Brazilian Portuguese: ambição
Chinese: 雄心
Croatian: ambicija
Czech: přání
Danish: ambition
Dutch: ambitie
European Spanish: ambición
Finnish: kunnianhimo
French: ambition
German: Ehrgeiz
Greek: φιλοδοξία
Italian: ambizione
Japanese: 野心
Korean: 야심
Norwegian: ærgjerrighet
Polish: ambicja
European Portuguese: ambição
Romanian: ambiție
Russian: цель
Latin American Spanish: ambición
Swedish: ambition
Thai: ความทะเยอทะยาน
Turkish: hırs
Ukrainian: мета
Vietnamese: tham vọng
All related terms of 'ambition'
bold ambition
If you have an ambition to do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
career ambition
If you have an ambition to do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
grand ambition
If you have an ambition to do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
lofty ambition
If you have an ambition to do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
modest ambition
If you have an ambition to do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
lifelong ambition
If you have an ambition to do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
realistic ambition
If you have an ambition to do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
unfulfilled ambition
If you have an ambition to do or achieve something, you want very much to do it or achieve it.
Chinese translation of 'ambition'
ambition
(æmˈbɪʃən)
n
(c)
an ambition (to do sth)(做某事的)志向 ((zuò mǒushì de) zhìxiàng) (个(個), gè)
(u) (= desire) 抱负(負) (bàofù)
to achieve one's ambition实(實)现(現)自己的抱负(負) (shíxiàn zìjǐ de bàofù)
1 (noun)
Definition
something so desired
My ambition is to sail round the world.
Synonyms
goal
The goal is to raise as much money as possible.
end
another policy designed to achieve the same end
hope
Kevin hasn't given up hope of being fit.
design
Is there some design in having him here?
dream
My dream is to have a house in the country.
target
school leavers who fail to reach their targets
aim
a research programme that has failed to achieve its aim
wish
Clearly she had no wish for his company.
purpose
They are prepared to go to any lengths to achieve their purpose.
desire
I had a strong desire to help and care for people.
intention
She announced her intention of standing for parliament.
objective
His objective was to play golf and win.
intent
a statement of intent on arms control
aspiration
the needs and aspirations of our pupils
Holy Grail (informal)
2 (noun)
Definition
strong desire for success
a mixture of ambition and ruthlessness
Synonyms
enterprise
His trouble is that he lacks enterprise.
longing
He felt a longing for the familiar.
drive
He is best remembered for his drive and enthusiasm.
fire
His punishing schedule seemed to dim his fire at times.
spirit
They played with spirit.
desire
passion
Her eyes were blazing with passion.
enthusiasm
Her lack of enthusiasm filled me with disappointment.
warmth
striving
initiative
He was disappointed by her lack of initiative.
aspiration
yearning
He spoke of his yearning for another child.
devotion
I was impressed by his devotion to his family.
zeal
his zeal for teaching
verve
He played with great style and verve.
zest
He has a zest for life and a quick intellect.
fervour
an outbreak of religious fervour
eagerness
the voice of a woman speaking with breathless eagerness
gusto
Hers was a minor part, but she played it with gusto.
hankering
Have you always had a hankering to be an actress?
get-up-and-go (informal)
She's got more get-up-and-go than anyone I know.
ardour
Their romantic ardour had cooled.
keenness
the keenness of the students
avidity
fervency
Quotations
Ambition is the growth of every clime [William Blake – King Edward the Third]Well is it known that ambition can creep as well as soar [Edmund Burke – Letters on a Regicide Peace]Ambition, in a private man a vice, Is in a prince the virtue [Philip Massinger – The Bashful Lover]Ambition must be made to counteract ambition [James Madison – The Federalist Papers]Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a Heaven for? [Robert Browning – Andrea del Sarto]The glorious fault of angels and gods [Alexander Pope – Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady]
proverb
Every eel hopes to become a whale
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aim
Definition
intention or purpose
a research programme that has failed to achieve its aim