# ambient

/ˈæmbiənt/ (US) · /ˈæmbiənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ambient
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. surrounding environment

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

describing the conditions that are already around you, like the air temperature or the light in a room.

For teachers: relating to the immediate surroundings or environmental conditions, such as temperature, pressure, or light levels.

- The wine should be served at ambient temperature, which means the same as the room.
- The sensors were calibrated to ignore ambient noise, allowing the research team to isolate the specific acoustic signals of the marine mammals.

Usage: Often used in technical or scientific contexts to describe 'room' conditions.

### 2. creating a mood

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

creating a calm or peaceful mood, especially through sound or light.

For teachers: evoking or creating a particular atmosphere or mood; often used to describe background elements that enhance a setting.

- The restaurant had soft, ambient lighting that made the dinner feel very relaxing.
- The designer used ambient textures and subtle lighting to transform the industrial warehouse into a sophisticated gallery space.

## Examples

- The ambient light in the room is very soft.
- The restaurant plays low ambient music so that customers can still hear their own conversations.
- The sensors are designed to adjust the screen brightness based on the level of ambient light in the office, reducing eye strain for employees.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.