# ambition

/æmˈbɪʃən/ (US) · /æmbˈɪʃən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. desire for success

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- Her ambition to become a doctor started when she was very young.
- Without sufficient ambition, even the most talented individuals may find themselves stagnating in entry-level positions for years.

### 2. a specific goal

noun · CEFR B1

a particular goal or aim that you want to achieve.

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

- His main ambition in life is to travel around the world.
- The young athlete finally realised her lifelong ambition of competing in the Olympic Games after years of rigorous training.

### 3. to seek eagerly

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

to try very hard to get something you want.

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

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

## Examples

- Her main ambition is to become a successful doctor.
- Despite his lack of experience, his ambition drove him to start his own tech company right after graduation.
- The novel explores the destructive nature of unchecked ambition, illustrating how the protagonist's relentless pursuit of power ultimately alienates him from his closest allies.

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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.