ambience

noun

am·​bi·​ence ˈam-bē-ən(t)s 

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.

Synonyms

• aroma
• smell
• flavor
• aura
• atmosphere

Examples of ambience in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adding to the otherworldly ambience is the shifting jazz-folk score by Mary Komasa and Antoni Łazarkiewicz, which, like our hero, is similarly protean in nature. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025

Skull Taper Candle Holders Add these frightfully fantastic taper candle holders to tablescapes and credenzas for eerie ambience. —Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

Plenty of thought clearly also went into creating the right ambience from the moment the team bus pulls up behind the West Stand judging by the different lighting and imagery used to shift the mood as the players pass through the bowels of the arena. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

Refined yet playful, each dish is carefully crafted to complement the ambience of the room. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for ambience

• ambiance

Kids Definition

ambience

noun

am·​bi·​ence

variants or ambiance

ˈam-bē-ən(t)s  ˈäm-bē-än(t)s 

: a feeling or mood that is related to a particular place, person, or thing