What does "ambitious" mean?
Having or showing ambition; wanting a lot of power, honor, respect, superiority, or other distinction.
Ambitious
/æmˈbɪʃ.əs/ adj
adj ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Having or showing ambition; wanting a lot of power, honor, respect, superiority, or other distinction.
- Grammar: ambitious is listed as adj.
- Nearest alternatives: adventuresome, adventurous, aggressive, anxious.
- Useful contrasts: nonambitious, unambitious, aboulic.
- Usage evidence: The ambitious man became intoxicated with his own success.
How to use "ambitious"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ambitious" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ambitious" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ambitious" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ambitious" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ambitious" is acting as adj in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adventuresome" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ambitious", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Having or showing ambition; wanting a lot of power, honor, respect, superiority, or other distinction.
"an ambitious person"
- 2 Very desirous
"30 June 2019, Sam Wallace in The Telegraph, Manchester United must shape Aaron Wan-Bissaka into a £50m all-rounder - but there is no hiding place at Old Trafford Now he is joining a club ambitious to return to a model of dominating games and attacking opposition."
- 3 Resulting from, characterized by, or indicating, ambition
"an ambitious project"
- 4 Hard to achieve.
"A “moving platform” scheme[…]is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails. Local trains would use side-by-side rails to roll alongside intercity trains and allow passengers to switch trains by stepping through docking bays. This set-up solves several problems […]. Stopping high-speed trains wastes energy and time, so why not simply slow them down enough for a moving platform to pull alongside?"
Adjective
- 1 having a strong desire for success or achievement wordnet
- 2 requiring full use of your abilities or resources wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"The ambitious man became intoxicated with his own success."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ambitious"?
Common synonyms include: adventuresome, adventurous, aggressive, anxious, aspirant, aspirational.
How do you use "ambitious" in a sentence?
The ambitious man became intoxicated with his own success.
How do you pronounce "ambitious"?
Pronounced /æmˈbɪʃ.əs/.
Etymology
From Middle English ambitious, from Middle French ambitieus, from Latin ambitiosus, from ambitio; see ambition. Compare with French ambitieux.