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ambition definition

am·bi·tion (am bis̸h′ən)

noun

  1. a strong desire to gain a particular objective; specif., the drive to succeed, or to gain fame, power, wealth, etc.
  2. the objective strongly desired

Etymology: ME < OFr < L ambitio, a going around (to solicit votes) < pp. of ambire: see ambient

transitive verb

Rare to be ambitious for

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ambition Synonyms

ambition

n.

  1. Eager desire

    aspiration, ambitiousness, drive, enterprise, hope, earnestness, appetite for fame, yearning, eagerness, longing, hankering, craving, passion, lust, itch, hunger, thirst, appetite, avidity, energy, ardor, zeal, enthusiasm, spirit, vigor, hunger for power, love of glory, eagerness for distinction, emulation, get-up-and-go*, push*, what it takes*. *

    Antonyms indifference*, apathy*, laziness. *

  2. The object of desire

    aim, goal, objective, dream; see purpose 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ambition Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • mine: This has always been a life-long ambition of mine.

Possessives

  • lifetime: Failure makes more interesting copy than success but try telling that to a proud man who has just achieved his lifetime's ambition.

Converse of object

  • fulfill: Anne Fenner, who is nearly 80, rode on the footplate of the WD from Holt to Sheringham, fulfilling a lifelong ambition.

Adjective modifier

  • selfish: Ali's selfish ambition drove him to almost any action to obtain this power.

Noun used with modifier

  • federalist: It clearly shows the federalist ambitions of the European project then and now.
ambition usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

ambition quotes

Ambition, n. An overmastering desire to be vilified by enemies while living and made ridiculous by friends when dead.

-Bierce, Ambrose Gwinett

'I only took the regular course.' 'What was that?' inquired Alice. Carroll 'Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,'the MockTurtle replied; 'and then the different branches of ArithmeticöAmbition, Distraction,Uglification, and Derision.'

-Dodgson

The people who lived behind those clean lace curtains in row after row of identical boxes were newspaper readers, and every word in at any rate my newspaper must be clear and comprehensible to them, must be interesting to them, must encourage them to break away from littleness, stimulate their ambition, help them to want to build a better land.

-Christiansen, Arthur

ambition quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"ambition." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/ambition>

APA Style

ambition. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/ambition

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