ambitious
adjective
am·bi·tious am-ˈbi-shəs 
1
a
: having or controlled by ambition : having a desire to be successful, powerful, or famous
an ambitious young executive
b
: having a desire to achieve a particular goal : aspiring
ambitious for power
2
: resulting from, characterized by, or showing ambition
an ambitious film
ambitiously adverb
ambitiousness noun
Synonyms
- aspiring
- go-getting
- hard-driving
- pushing
- self-seeking
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The company was created by two very ambitious young men in the early 1900s. This 500-page book is her most ambitious effort yet. Your plans for the future are very ambitious. It was too ambitious a task for just one person.
Recent Examples on the Web At least until the end of Xi’s third term in 2027, its leaders will still be ambitious, still bent on absorbing Taiwan, still intent on supplanting the United States as the dominant power in Asia. 
Doyle Mcmanus, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 But some might say Feid, a reggaeton singer-songerwriter who has been on the rise for years, wasn’t ambitious enough in this case. Luis Gomez, Billboard, 11 Sep. 2022 Peter Tufts said Charlie’s friends and family didn’t want to be overly ambitious, with 16 teams aiming to raise $50,000. Kevin Cullen, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 The script may be overly ambitious, but there is still plenty here for fans of Sherlock Holmes or murder mysteries in general to enjoy. Emily Mcclanathan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 San Antonio got its first look Monday at arguably the most ambitious restaurant project to open in the city since the COVID-19 outbreak. Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Aug. 2022 Where August is lazy and hazy, September is overly ambitious. Michael Alberty | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2022 The site's opening on September 2, more than 50 years after work at the site began, marks the fulfillment of Heizer's most ambitious and career-defining project. Benjamin Sutton, CNN, 22 Aug. 2022 Yet a project as ambitious as returning to the moon is not always a political winner. Wired, 13 Aug. 2022 See More
Doyle Mcmanus, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 But some might say Feid, a reggaeton singer-songerwriter who has been on the rise for years, wasn’t ambitious enough in this case. Luis Gomez, Billboard, 11 Sep. 2022 Peter Tufts said Charlie’s friends and family didn’t want to be overly ambitious, with 16 teams aiming to raise $50,000. Kevin Cullen, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 The script may be overly ambitious, but there is still plenty here for fans of Sherlock Holmes or murder mysteries in general to enjoy. Emily Mcclanathan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 San Antonio got its first look Monday at arguably the most ambitious restaurant project to open in the city since the COVID-19 outbreak. Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Aug. 2022 Where August is lazy and hazy, September is overly ambitious. Michael Alberty | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2022 The site's opening on September 2, more than 50 years after work at the site began, marks the fulfillment of Heizer's most ambitious and career-defining project. Benjamin Sutton, CNN, 22 Aug. 2022 Yet a project as ambitious as returning to the moon is not always a political winner. Wired, 13 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English ambicious "overweening, craving," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French ambicieus "striving for success, seeking glory," borrowed from Latin ambitiōsus "anxious to win favor, eager for advancement," from ambitiō "act of soliciting for votes, desire for advancement" + -ōsus -ous — more at ambition entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing ambitious
Kids Definition
ambitious
adjective
am·bi·tious am-ˈbi-shəs
1
: possessing a desire for success, honor, or power
2
: not easily done or achieved
She has an ambitious plan to become a doctor.
ambitious
adjective
1
as in aspiring
having a strong desire for personal advancement an ambitious child actor and his even more ambitious mother, who will do anything to get him in commercials Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- aspiring
- energetic
- motivated
- ardent
- eager
- diligent
- aggressive
- industrious
- pushing
- hard-driving
- go-getting
- dynamic
- enterprising
- self-seeking
- determined
- venturesome
- hungry
- spirited
- avid
- scrappy
- venturous
- impassioned
- opportunistic
- competitive
- overambitious
- vigorous
- animated
- hustling
- assertive
- driving
- pretentious
- raring
- lively
- competing
- pushy
- self-assertive
- high-flying
- gung ho
- rival
- keen
- rivalrous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unambitious
- disinterested
- indifferent
- uninterested
- apathetic
- unenthusiastic
- ambitionless
- unexcited
- casual
- easygoing
- lackadaisical
- lazy
- halfhearted
- sluggish
- tepid
- lukewarm
- shiftless
- lethargic
- listless
- spiritless
- uneager
- unassertive
- lazyish
- unaggressive
2
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal cleaning up the vacant lot in one weekend was an ambitious undertaking Synonyms & Similar Words
- aggressive
- adventurous
- fierce
- enterprising
- energetic
- vigorous
- assertive
- militant
- confident
- daring
- pushy
- overambitious
- self-assertive
- bold
- go-getting
- in-your-face
- dynamic
- determined
- pugnacious
- high-pressure
- warlike
- belligerent
- bellicose
- combative
- adventuresome
- self-asserting
- audacious
- contentious
- strenuous
- truculent
- venturous
- gutsy
- impudent
- quarrelsome
- emphatic
- venturesome
- domineering
- disputatious
- bumptious
- hustling
- argumentative
- emboldened
- feisty
- cheeky
- hyperaggressive
- dashing
- cocky
- unapologetic
- insolent
- overconfident
- brassy
- gladiatorial
- presumptuous
- obtrusive
- trigger-happy
- brash
- scrappy
- gung ho
- cocksure
- dominating
- discordant
- forward
- overbearing
- unyielding
- imperious
- unsubdued
- magisterial
- bare-knuckled
- bare-knuckles
- bare-knuckle
- lordly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unambitious
- unassertive
- unaggressive
- easygoing
- nonassertive
- relaxed
- amenable
- ambitionless
- compliant
- tractable
- docile
- deferential
- submissive
- timid
- modest
- acquiescent
- humble
- passive
- unenterprising
- mild
- resigned
- yielding
- quiet
- shrinking
- shy
- subdued
- meek
- low-pressure
- diffident
- laid-back
- bashful
- unobtrusive
- lowly
- reserved
- grovelling
- retiring
- demure
- mousy
- obsequious
- subservient
- slavish
- mousey
- servile
- cringing
- groveling
- overmodest
- cowering