ambitious
An ambitious person has a strong desire to be successful or achieve big goals.
Explanation at your level:
You are ambitious if you want to do great things. If you have a big dream, you are ambitious. It is a good word for someone who works hard every day.
An ambitious person wants to be successful. They set goals for themselves. You can also have an ambitious plan, which means the plan is very big and needs a lot of work.
Being ambitious is about having a strong desire to achieve your goals. It is often used in business or school. If you have an ambitious project, you might need a team to help you finish it because it is so large.
The term ambitious describes someone with a clear vision for their future. It is a common adjective in professional settings. However, note that it can sometimes have a negative connotation if someone is seen as being 'overly ambitious' in a way that ignores others.
In advanced English, ambitious is used to describe both character traits and the scale of endeavors. A 'highly ambitious' person is often a high-achiever. When applied to artistic or architectural works, it implies a level of complexity and bold vision that challenges the status quo.
Etymologically, the word retains a sense of 'striving for honor.' In literature, an ambitious character is often the protagonist whose drive leads to their rise or downfall. It is a nuanced word that balances the positive aspect of drive with the potential for hubris or excessive reach.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Ambitious means having a strong desire to succeed.
- It can describe people or plans.
- It is often used in professional contexts.
- The noun form is ambition.
When we call someone ambitious, we are describing their inner fire. It is that special quality where a person isn't just content with the status quo; they want to climb higher, learn more, and achieve greatness.
You can also use this word for things, not just people. An ambitious project is one that is very complex or difficult. It’s the kind of task that makes people say, 'Wow, that’s going to take a lot of work!'
The word ambitious comes from the Latin word ambitio, which meant 'a going around.' In ancient Rome, politicians would literally walk around the city to solicit votes from citizens.
Over time, this 'going around' evolved to mean the intense desire for honor or power. It moved from a physical action to a psychological state of being, eventually entering English through Old French in the 15th century.
In casual conversation, ambitious is often a compliment. It shows you admire someone’s drive. However, in some contexts, it can imply that someone is 'too' ambitious, perhaps at the expense of others.
Commonly, we pair it with nouns like goal, plan, or project. You will often hear people say, 'That’s an ambitious goal,' which is a polite way of saying it’s going to be very hard to reach.
While there aren't many direct idioms using the word 'ambitious,' it is closely linked to phrases like 'reach for the stars', which describes someone with high ambitions. Another related expression is 'aim high', meaning to set difficult goals.
We also use 'go-getter' to describe an ambitious person. A 'sky-high ambition' is another way to describe someone whose goals are truly massive in scope.
Ambitious is an adjective. It does not have a plural form. It is often used with the verb 'to be' (e.g., 'He is ambitious').
Pronunciation: In the US, it is /æmˈbɪʃ.əs/. The stress is on the second syllable: am-BISH-us. It rhymes with words like suspicious or nutritious.
Fun Fact
Politicians in Rome wore white togas called 'candida' to show they were 'candidates' for office.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'sh' sound.
Similar to UK, stress on second syllable.
Common Errors
- Misplacing the stress
- Pronouncing it like 'ambition'
- Swallowing the 's' at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common word.
Easy to use.
Easy to pronounce.
Clear.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective Order
An ambitious young man.
Articles with Adjectives
An ambitious goal.
Linking Verbs
He is ambitious.
Examples by Level
She is an ambitious student.
She wants to learn a lot.
Adjective before noun.
He has an ambitious goal.
A big goal.
Article 'an' used.
They are very ambitious.
They want to succeed.
Adjective after verb.
It is an ambitious plan.
A big plan.
Describes a thing.
She works in an ambitious team.
A team that wants to win.
Describes a group.
He is very ambitious today.
He is working hard.
Adverb 'very' modifies adjective.
They have ambitious ideas.
Big ideas.
Plural noun.
The goal is ambitious.
The goal is hard.
Predicate adjective.
She is an ambitious athlete.
His plan is quite ambitious.
They are ambitious young people.
We have an ambitious schedule.
The project is very ambitious.
He is known for being ambitious.
She is an ambitious entrepreneur.
They set an ambitious target.
The company has ambitious expansion plans.
He is too ambitious for his own good.
It was an ambitious attempt to climb the peak.
She is an ambitious leader in her field.
They launched an ambitious marketing campaign.
The goal is ambitious but achievable.
He showed an ambitious spirit from a young age.
The architecture is bold and ambitious.
Her ambitious nature helped her succeed.
The proposal was met with ambitious skepticism.
He is an ambitious climber in the corporate world.
The film is an ambitious take on a classic story.
It is an ambitious undertaking for such a small team.
They are driven by an ambitious desire for change.
The project's scope is incredibly ambitious.
She has an ambitious vision for the future.
The candidate’s ambitious platform won over voters.
His ambitious pursuit of knowledge is admirable.
The novel is an ambitious exploration of human nature.
She is an ambitious strategist in global politics.
The plan is nothing if not ambitious.
They embarked on an ambitious journey across the continent.
The company's ambitious growth strategy is risky.
He is an ambitious man with a penchant for power.
The architect’s ambitious design defied conventional logic.
Her ambitious reach often exceeded her grasp.
The empire’s ambitious expansion led to its eventual collapse.
He possessed an ambitious drive that bordered on obsession.
The play is an ambitious reinterpretation of Shakespeare.
The project was an ambitious attempt at social engineering.
His ambitious goals were tempered by reality.
She remains an ambitious force in the literary world.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"reach for the stars"
To have very high ambitions.
Always reach for the stars in your career.
casual"aim high"
To set ambitious goals.
You should aim high if you want to succeed.
neutral"go-getter"
An ambitious, energetic person.
She is a real go-getter at the office.
casual"the sky's the limit"
There is no limit to what one can achieve.
With your talent, the sky's the limit.
neutral"climb the ladder"
To advance in one's career.
He is eager to climb the corporate ladder.
neutral"bite off more than one can chew"
To take on a task that is too ambitious.
Don't bite off more than you can chew.
casualEasily Confused
Noun vs Adjective usage.
Ambitious is the adjective, Ambition is the noun.
He is ambitious. He has ambition.
Both involve wanting things.
Ambitious is about goals; Greedy is about wanting more than your share.
He is ambitious for success; he is greedy for money.
Both relate to future goals.
Aspiring is specifically about trying to become a professional.
An aspiring actor is ambitious.
Both imply drive.
Motivated is general; Ambitious is specifically for high status/success.
He is motivated to clean; he is ambitious to lead.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + ambitious
She is ambitious.
An + ambitious + noun
An ambitious goal.
Highly + ambitious
A highly ambitious plan.
Too + ambitious + to + verb
Too ambitious to fail.
Ambitious + enough + to + verb
Ambitious enough to start a company.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
While 'ambitiousness' exists, 'ambition' is the standard noun form.
Ensure the noun matches the adjective's scope.
Use 'overly' to show it is too much.
Ambitioned is not a word; use the adjective.
Usually followed by a noun or a verb phrase.
Tips
The 'Big Goal' Link
Whenever you see a big goal, whisper 'ambitious'.
Professional Praise
Use it to praise colleagues.
The American Dream
It is central to US culture.
Adjective Placement
Always before the noun or after 'to be'.
The 'sh' sound
Ensure the 'tious' part sounds like 'shus'.
Don't say 'ambitioned'
Use 'ambitious' as the adjective.
Roman Roots
It started with politicians walking around.
Contextualize
Use it to describe your own goals.
No Plural
It never takes an 's' at the end.
Tone Check
Make sure you sound encouraging.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
AM-BISH-US: I AM BISHOP (a high position) US (we all want to reach it).
Visual Association
A person climbing a mountain with a flag.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down three ambitious goals you have for next year.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: Going around to solicit votes.
Cultural Context
Can be perceived as negative if used to describe someone 'ruthless'.
Seen as a positive trait in Western business culture.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Job Interviews
- I am an ambitious professional.
- I have ambitious goals for this role.
School/University
- An ambitious research project.
- She is an ambitious student.
Business Strategy
- An ambitious growth target.
- The company's ambitious vision.
Personal Life
- I have ambitious plans for the weekend.
- He is very ambitious about his health.
Conversation Starters
"What is the most ambitious project you have ever worked on?"
"Do you think being ambitious is always a good thing?"
"Who is the most ambitious person you know?"
"What are your ambitious goals for the next five years?"
"How can someone balance being ambitious with enjoying life?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you set an ambitious goal.
Is it better to be ambitious or content? Why?
Write about a fictional character who is too ambitious.
How does your ambition change as you get older?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsIt depends on context; usually good, but can imply being ruthless.
Yes, it means it is large and complex.
Ambition.
Subject + is + ambitious + noun.
Yes, employers love to hear about ambitious candidates.
Yes.
Yes, that is called being 'overly ambitious'.
It is neutral and widely used.
Test Yourself
She is a very ___ student.
Describes her desire to succeed.
What does ambitious mean?
Ambitious means wanting to achieve.
An ambitious plan is usually easy to finish.
Ambitious plans are usually difficult.
Word
Meaning
Matches synonyms and antonyms.
Standard subject-verb-adjective order.
Score: /5
Summary
Ambitious is the fuel that drives people to reach their highest potential.
- Ambitious means having a strong desire to succeed.
- It can describe people or plans.
- It is often used in professional contexts.
- The noun form is ambition.
The 'Big Goal' Link
Whenever you see a big goal, whisper 'ambitious'.
Professional Praise
Use it to praise colleagues.
The American Dream
It is central to US culture.
Adjective Placement
Always before the noun or after 'to be'.
Example
She is a very ambitious student who hopes to study medicine at a top university.
Related Content
Learn it in Context
This Word in Other Languages
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abanimize
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abhor
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abmotine
C1Describes a state of being emotionally detached or lacking intrinsic motivation, often characterized by a cold, clinical, or indifferent stance. It is used to denote a specific lack of movement or response to external emotional stimuli.
abominable
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abphilous
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absedhood
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abvidness
C1The quality or state of being intensely eager, enthusiastic, or consumed by a particular interest or desire. It represents a level of dedication and spirited engagement that often goes beyond standard enthusiasm, typical of scholars, collectors, or hobbyists.
adacrty
C1Alacrity refers to a cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness to do something. It describes not only the speed of an action but also the positive and enthusiastic attitude of the person performing it.
