ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ambitious

adj.
US //æmˈbɪʃəs// UK //æmbˈɪʃəs// am·bi·tious
  1. 1 personally driven (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    having a strong desire to be successful, powerful, or famous.

    possessing or exhibiting a strong desire for success, power, or social status.

    Example

    She is an ambitious lawyer who hopes to become a judge one day.

    Example

    The company is looking for ambitious graduates who are eager to climb the corporate ladder and take on leadership roles early in their careers.
  2. 2 difficult to achieve (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    describing a plan or goal that needs a lot of effort and is hard to finish.

    requiring exceptional effort, skill, or resources to be successful; high in scope or difficulty.

    Example

    The government has an ambitious plan to build ten new hospitals by next year.

    Example

    The architect's ambitious design for the skyscraper pushed the limits of modern engineering and required materials that had never been used on such a scale.
Origin

From Middle English ambitious, from Middle French ambitieus, from Latin ambitiosus, from ambitio; see ambition. Compare with French ambitieux.

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