Word
ambush
Phoneticsam·bush, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈæmˌbʊʃ/
UK/ˈæmbʊʃ/
Españolemboscada
Countable noun
Definition
n. a surprise attack by people who were hiding and waiting.
n. a sudden attack launched from a concealed position against an unsuspecting target.
Examples
“The soldiers survived the ambush in the forest.”
“The journalist felt ambushed by the sudden, aggressive questions from the press conference.”
“The general planned the ambush carefully, ensuring his troops remained hidden until the enemy column entered the narrow valley.”
Examples
simple
“The soldiers survived the ambush in the forest.”
contextual
“The journalist felt ambushed by the sudden, aggressive questions from the press conference.”
complex
“The general planned the ambush carefully, ensuring his troops remained hidden until the enemy column entered the narrow valley.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'lay', 'set', or 'fall into'.
Real-World Examples
“An ambush has killed two United Nations peacekeepers in South Sudan.” “Tete, 38, was gunned down in what has been described as an ambush in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.” Etymology
From Middle English enbuschen, from Old French enbuscier, anbuchier (verb) (whence Middle French embusche (noun)), from Old French en- + Vulgar Latin boscus (“wood”) (whence also bouquet), from Frankish busk (“bush”), from Proto-Germanic buskaz (“bush, heavy stick”). Compare ambuscade. The change to am- from earlier forms in en- is unexplained. More at bush.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ambush
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0