Meaning

(uncountable, countable) Eager or inordinate desire for some object that confers distinction, as preferment, honor, superiority, political power, or fame; desire to distinguish one's self from other people..

Definitions by Sense

1. (uncountable, countable) Eager or inordinate desire for some object that confers distinction, as preferment, honor, superiority, political power, or fame; desire to distinguish one's self from other people.
2. (countable) An object of an ardent desire.
3. A desire, as in (sense 1), for another person to achieve these things.
4. (uncountable) A personal quality similar to motivation, not necessarily tied to a single goal.
5. (obsolete) The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing.
6. To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet.

Example Sentences

My daughter, Johanna, wants to be a firefighter very much. She has a lot of ambition.

The third part of practice hath divers branches, but one principal root in these our times, which is the vast and overspreading ambition and usurpation of the see of Rome; […]

One is aſtoniſhed hovv ſuch a ſmall ſpot could furniſh Men ſufficient to ſacrifice to the pitiful Ambition of poſſeſſing five or ſix thouſand more Acres, or tvvo or three more Villages: […]

My ambition is to own a helicopter.

I on th' other ſide / Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds, […]

Pausanias, ambitioning the sovereignty of Greece, bargains with Xerxes for his daughter in marriage.

Word Forms

• ambitions
• ambitioning
• ambitioned

Synonyms for ambition

Related Words

When Should You Use Ambition?

Use ambition when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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