ambition

ambition — noun

1. a particular thing that someone hopes very much to do or get one day, often afte

1.nounB1
Definition

a particular thing that someone hopes very much to do or get one day, often after a lot of work or planning — for example, becoming a doctor, opening a small bakery, or climbing Mount Fuji.

Example

Priya's lifelong ambition is to open a small bookshop near the harbour.

ambition + to-infinitive after be-verb

Leila achieved her ambition of running the Tokyo Marathon at the age of fifty.

ambition of + V-ing for a specific goal

Common collocations
  • lifelong ambition
  • childhood ambition
  • fulfil an ambition
  • achieve an ambition
  • give up an ambition
Synonyms
  • goal

    more neutral; any target you set, big or small

  • dream

    softer and more emotional; often something hard to reach

  • aspiration

    more formal; usually long-term and admirable

Grammar Patterns

ambition + to-infinitive

ambition of + V-ing

Usage Note

Subject is usually a person or group; the goal is something specific and personal. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names a single concrete target, while sense 2 describes a general drive toward success or status.

Common Mistakes

I have ambition to be a nurse.
I have an ambition to be a nurse.
countable here, so it needs 'an' or 'the' before the singular noun.
Her ambition for becoming a pilot started early.
Her ambition to become a pilot started early.
use 'to' + base verb after a singular ambition, not 'for + V-ing'.

2. the strong inner energy that pushes a person to work hard for fame, money, power

2.nounB2
Definition

the strong inner energy that pushes a person to work hard for fame, money, power, or a high position in life.

Example

Uri's ambition pushed her from a small village school to the top law firm in Taipei.

abstract uncountable ambition as subject

The young senator was full of ambition and worked late into the night every day.

be full of + ambition collocation

Common collocations
  • full of ambition
  • burning ambition
  • naked ambition
  • lack ambition
  • personal ambition
Synonyms
  • drive

    the energy that makes someone keep working; close synonym

  • determination

    focuses on refusing to give up rather than wanting status

  • hunger

    informal and stronger; suggests an almost greedy desire

Antonyms
  • apathy

    complete lack of interest or energy

  • complacency

    being too satisfied with what you already have

Grammar Patterns

have + ambition

be full of ambition

lack + ambition

Usage Note

Treated as uncountable in this sense — never use 'an ambition' here. Often carries a slightly negative or warning tone, suggesting that the desire for power can become harmful. Distinguish from sense 1, which is a concrete personal goal.

Common Mistakes

He has an ambition for power.
He has ambition.' or 'He is full of ambition.
when meaning the general drive, use it without 'an'.
She showed many ambitions in the office.
She showed a lot of ambition in the office.
uncountable, so use 'a lot of', not a plural.

Word family

  • ambitious
    adjectiveB1
  • ambitiously
    adverbC1
  • overambitious
    adjectiveC1
  • unambitious
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something a person wants to reach, but they differ in tone and scale. A goal is the most neutral and practical: it can be tiny (finish a book this week) or large, and is often measurable. An ambition is bigger and more personal — usually a single, important target that shapes years of effort, like becoming a surgeon. A dream is softer and more emotional, often used for things that feel beautiful but distant or uncertain (her dream of moving to Iceland). An aspiration is the most formal and admirable, often used in school or career writing for long-term hopes that lift a person up. Compare: 'My goal this term is to read ten books,' 'My ambition is to direct a film,' 'It was always her dream to live by the sea,' and 'Their aspirations include serving their community.'

ambition ↗goal ↗dream ↗aspiration ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • realize an ambition
  • harbour an ambition
  • no shortage of ambition

Prepositions

  • ambition for
  • ambition of

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Ambition comes from the Latin verb 'ambire', meaning to walk around or go from place to place. In ancient Rome, candidates for public office literally walked around the city greeting voters and asking for their support. The noun 'ambitio' first described this energetic going-about, then came to mean the strong desire for honour and high position behind it. The word entered Middle English through Old French in the 14th century, keeping the sense of eager pursuit of status, and later widened to cover any deeply held personal goal.