Main Entry:

¹am·bi·tion

Pronunciation:

\am-ˈbi-shən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin ambition-, ambitio, literally, act of soliciting for votes, from ambire

Date:

14th century

1 a: an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power b: desire to achieve a particular end2: the object of ambition <her ambition is to start her own business>3: a desire for activity or exertion <felt sick and had no ambition>

— am·bi·tion·less \-ləs\ adjective

synonyms ambition, aspiration, pretension mean strong desire for advancement. ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire <driven by ambition>. aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself and usually implies that the striver is thereby ennobled <an aspiration to become president someday>. pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption <has literary pretensions>.