ambience

noun

am·​bi·​ence ˈam-bē-ən(t)s How to pronounce ambience (audio)
ˈäm-bē-än(t)s
variants or ambiance
: a feeling or mood associated with a particular place, person, or thing : atmosphere
The restaurant's soft music and candlelight gave it a romantic ambience.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The cuisine and the ambience are both meant to recall the Mediterranean, with a menu conceptualized by chefs Samir Mohajer (formerly of Rustic Canyon) and Sabel Braganza (formerly of E.P. & L.P.). Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023 The diversity of these locales — and their preferences, crowds and ambiences — are united by the precision and complexity presented inside what on its face is a pretty simple dish: steak and eggs and bread and veggies. Bryan Washington, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2023 Their wooden floors, furnishings and walls, as well as marble dressing rooms and stone bathrooms, are swanky — yet also imbued with the peaceful ambience of a ryokan, thanks to Japanese architect Yuji Yamazaki. Laura Manske, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023 At a thrift store, the items and ambience won’t tell you no. Grace Antino, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2023 Cooper, working from the bestselling 2003 novel of the same name by Louis Bayard, builds a solid murder mystery out of Victorian scheming and icebox ambience (rarely has an entire cast looked so genuinely in need of heating pads). Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2022 Adding a holiday-scented reed diffuser is my easiest trick for boosting the warmth and ambience of my tiny apartment, and Nest's pretty glass bottles add a touch of decor along with the welcoming scent. Alex Warner, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2022 This design is ideal to hang at 15-foot intervals around a pool or patio to maximize mosquito control and add both light and ambience. John Sass, Field & Stream, 11 Apr. 2023 In addition to enjoying the unique ambience, try the Fabyan’s Station Burger, which is topped with pork belly, and Station Pork Sundae, a monstrous concoction made with cornbread, baked beans, pulled pork, coleslaw, and pickles. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ambience.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

in part from ambi(ent) entry 1 + -ence, in part borrowed from French ambiance (from ambiant "ambient" + -ance -ance)

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ambience was in 1648

Dictionary Entries Near ambience

Cite this Entry

“Ambience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambience. Accessed 27 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

ambience

noun
am·​bi·​ence
: a feeling or mood that is related to a particular place, person, or thing

More from Merriam-Webster on ambience

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!