Ambition: meaning, definitions and examples

💪

Add to dictionary

ambition

[æmˈbɪʃən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

career aspiration

A strong desire to achieve something great or succeed in a particular field, often linked to one's career goals. Ambition is the determination and drive to pursue challenging objectives and overcome obstacles.

Synonyms

aspiration, determination, drive.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ambition	Used to describe a strong desire to achieve something, typically requiring hard work and dedication. It can sometimes have a negative connotation if someone is perceived as overly driven. Her ambition to become a doctor motivated her to study hard. His unchecked ambition led him to make questionable decisions.
aspiration	Refers specifically to a hope or desire to achieve something, often relating to long-term goals or ideals. It generally has a more positive and lofty connotation. She has aspirations to climb Mount Everest. Their aspirations for a better community drove them to start the charity.
drive	Used to characterize a strong internal motivation or energy to achieve goals, often associated with enthusiasm and focus. It usually has a positive connotation. His drive to succeed impressed his colleagues. She has a lot of drive and is always looking for new challenges.
determination	Describes an unyielding commitment to achieving a goal, often highlighting perseverance and resilience. It carries a positive connotation. With great determination, he finished the marathon. Her determination helped her overcome many obstacles.

Examples of usage

She has the ambition to become the CEO of the company one day.
His ambition is to win a Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking research.
Despite facing many setbacks, her ambition to succeed never wavered.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

personal goals

A compelling goal or dream that motivates a person to work hard and strive for excellence in various aspects of life. Ambition can encompass not only professional success but also personal growth and fulfillment.

Synonyms

desire, dream, goal.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ambition	This word is often used when someone is driven by a strong determination to achieve success or power, especially in their career or personal life. It can sometimes have a slightly negative connotation if seen as overly aggressive. Her ambition to become the CEO of the company drove her to work late nights. His unbounded ambition often intimidated his colleagues.
goal	This word is used to describe an aim or desired result that someone plans and commits to achieve. It often implies a more concrete and measurable target. Her goal is to complete the marathon within four hours. They set a goal to increase sales by 20% next quarter.
dream	This word is often used to describe a cherished desire or an ideal ambition. It usually has a positive and hopeful connotation, often referring to long-term or visionary goals. It has always been her dream to own a little house by the sea. He pursued his dream of becoming a professional musician.
desire	This is a broad term that can refer to a strong feeling of wanting something or wishing for something to happen. It can be used for both tangible and intangible things, from physical objects to abstract concepts. She has a strong desire to learn new languages. His desire for recognition led him to work on high-profile projects.

Examples of usage

His ambition is to travel the world and experience different cultures.
She pursued her ambition of becoming a published author with unwavering dedication.
Their shared ambition to make a positive impact on society brought them together.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

negative connotation

An excessive or ruthless desire for power, fame, or success, often at the expense of others. Ambition in this sense can lead to unethical behavior or a disregard for moral principles.

Synonyms

greed, ruthlessness, selfishness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ambition	Ambition is used to describe a strong desire to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. It generally has a positive connotation. She showed great ambition in pursuing her dreams of becoming a doctor His ambition to lead the company to new heights was evident
greed	Greed refers to an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. It usually carries a negative connotation and implies a lack of consideration for others. His greed for money led him to unethical business practices The company's collapse was a result of the CEO's unchecked greed
ruthlessness	Ruthlessness describes a lack of compassion and a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve one's goals, often at the expense of others. This term has a negative connotation. Her ruthlessness in the boardroom earned her both respect and fear The dictator's ruthlessness was evident in his cruel policies
selfishness	Selfishness is the act of prioritizing one's own needs and desires over those of others. It is generally perceived negatively because it suggests disregard for others' feelings or needs. His selfishness caused a rift in the family She displayed selfishness by taking all the credit for the team's work

Examples of usage

His unchecked ambition drove him to betray his closest friends in pursuit of wealth.
The politician's ambition knew no bounds, leading to corruption and scandal.
She was willing to sacrifice anything to satisfy her insatiable ambition for power.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from Latin 'ambitio,' which means 'a going around' or 'to seek after,' originally relating to political campaigning.
In the 14th century, 'ambition' began to take on the meaning of striving for success or honor.
Over time, it has shifted from a neutral term to one that often implies a strong desire for personal success.

Psychology

Studies show that individuals with high ambition tend to set higher goals and are more likely to achieve them.
Ambitious people often possess a growth mindset, believing that their abilities can be developed through effort.
Research indicates that ambition may sometimes lead to stress if goals are unrealistic or overly demanding.

Pop Culture

In movies and literature, ambitious characters often undertake great journeys or face moral dilemmas in their quest for success.
Popular films like 'The Pursuit of Happyness' highlight the struggles and determination linked with personal ambition.
Famous figures like Oprah Winfrey inspire many with their stories of ambition leading to significant achievements against the odds.

History

Throughout history, ambitious leaders have led revolutions, from Alexander the Great to Martin Luther King Jr.
The Renaissance period was marked by ambitious artists and thinkers aiming for new heights in art and science.
Ambition has played a crucial role in shaping nations, with many countries' founding figures driven by ambitious visions for their futures.

Literature

In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth,' the main character’s ambition leads him to tragic consequences, showing the darker side of ambition.
Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein' explores the dangers of unchecked ambition through the character of Victor Frankenstein.
Ambition is often a central theme in great literature, as it drives many characters' actions and the narratives forward.

Translations

Translations of the word "ambition" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ambição

🇮🇳 महत्त्वाकांक्षा

🇩🇪 Ambition

Ehrgeiz
Ziel

🇮🇩 ambisi

🇺🇦 амбіція

прагнення
мета

🇵🇱 ambicja

🇯🇵 野心 (やしん)

🇫🇷 ambition

🇪🇸 ambición

🇹🇷 hırs

🇰🇷 야망 (야망)

🇸🇦 طموح

🇨🇿 ambice

🇸🇰 ambícia

🇨🇳 野心 (yěxīn)

🇸🇮 ambicija

🇮🇸 metnaður

🇰🇿 амбиция

🇬🇪 ამბიცია

🇦🇿 ambisiya

🇲🇽 ambición

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,578 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

...
5575 interim
5576 conveyance
5577 ideological
5578 ambition
5579 phrases
5580 drives
5581 openly
...