ambitious

word

/æmˈbɪʃəs/
am-BI-shuhs
/æmbˈɪʃəs/
am-BI-shuhs

Definition

Someone who is ambitious has a strong desire to achieve success, power, or something important. It can also describe plans or projects that are very challenging or require a lot of effort.

Usage & Nuances

Generally positive when describing someone's drive for success, but can be negative if it seems selfish or too aggressive. Common collocations: 'ambitious goals', 'ambitious project', 'an ambitious person'. Not to be confused with 'greedy', which means only wanting more for oneself.

Example Sentences

She is very ambitious and wants to be a doctor.

basic

I admire people who are ambitious and never give up.

natural

They have an ambitious plan to build a new school.

basic

His ambitious goals motivate him to work hard.

basic

That’s a pretty ambitious idea—you think it’ll really work?

natural

Even as a kid, he was always ambitious about his dreams.

natural