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View synonyms for

ambition

[ am-bish-uhn ]

noun

  1. an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment:

    Too much ambition caused him to be disliked by his colleagues.

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. the object, state, or result desired or sought after:

    The crown was his ambition.

    Synonyms: ,

  3. desire for work or activity; energy:

    I awoke feeling tired and utterly lacking in ambition.

    Synonyms: ,



verb (used with object)

  1. to seek after earnestly; aspire to.

ambition

/ æˈɪʃə /

noun

  1. strong desire for success, achievement, or distinction
  2. something so desired; goal; aim
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • ·tDz· adjective
  • ·tDz··ly adverb
  • a·tDz noun
  • p··tDz noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ambition1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ambicio(u)n, from Middle French or directly from Latin پō- (stem of پō ), equivalent to amb- ambi- + -i- “go” + -t- past participle suffix + -ō- -ion
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ambition1

C14: from Old French, from Latin پō a going round (of candidates), a striving to please, from ī to go round; see ambit
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The restrictions on the sale of key chips to China, including the most recent move tightening exports from US chip giant Nvidia, for instance, are aimed at curbing Xi's ambitions for tech supremacy.

From

Vietnam's new leaders appears to have the same ambition.

From

He also dismissed President Trump's territorial ambitions not just for his country, but Greenland and Panama too.

From

Even the country’s closest democratic allies and largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, faced ridicule, seemingly arbitrary import tax rates, and threats of territorial ambition.

From

Meanwhile, China continues its space ambitions, with plans for a human lunar campaign and its own “sample return” mission to the Red Planet.

From

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ambitendencyambitious