What does "ambition" mean?

1. (desire for success) the strong desire to be successful, rich, or powerful. 2. (a specific goal) a particular goal or aim that you want to achieve. 3. (to seek eagerly) to try very hard to get something you want.

How do you use "ambition"?

This verb form is rare in modern speech and is typically found in older literature or very formal prose.

ambition

n. · v.

US //æmˈbɪʃən// UK //æmbˈɪʃən// am·bi·tion

1 desire for success (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the strong desire to be successful, rich, or powerful.

the internal drive or motivation to achieve distinction, power, or fame. Uncountable in this general sense.

Example

Her ambition to become a doctor started when she was very young.

Example

Without sufficient ambition, even the most talented individuals may find themselves stagnating in entry-level positions for years.
- apathy
- laziness
2 a specific goal (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a particular goal or aim that you want to achieve.

a specific object of desire or a particular achievement aimed for. Countable in this sense.

Example

His main ambition in life is to travel around the world.

Example

The young athlete finally realised her lifelong ambition of competing in the Olympic Games after years of rigorous training.

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3 to seek eagerly (v.)
C2 Proficiency Literary Formal

to try very hard to get something you want.

to seek after something eagerly or to covet a position or object. Transitive use.

Example

He would ambition the highest office in the land if he had the chance.

Example

In the classic tragedy, the protagonist began to ambition the crown, leading to his eventual moral downfall.

Usage

This verb form is rare in modern speech and is typically found in older literature or very formal prose.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts? Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰider. Proto-Italic *amβi Latin ambi- Proto-Indo-European *h₁ey- Proto-Indo-European *h₁éyti Proto-Italic *ejō Proto-Italic *eō Latin eō Latin ambiō Proto-Indo-European *-tisder. Proto-Italic *-tjō Latin -tiō Latin ambitiōder. Old French ambitionbor. Middle English ambicioun English ambition From Middle English ambicioun, from Old French ambition, from Latin ambitiō (“ambition, a striving for favor, literally 'a going around', especially of candidates for office in Rome soliciting votes”), from ambiō (“I go around, solicit votes”). See ambient, issue.