ambitious

adjective

am·​bi·​tious am-ˈbi-shəs 

1

a

: having or controlled by ambition : having a desire to be successful, powerful, or famous

an ambitious young executive

b

: having a desire to achieve a particular goal : aspiring

ambitious for power

2

: resulting from, characterized by, or showing ambition

an ambitious film

ambitiously adverb

ambitiousness noun

Synonyms

• aspiring

Examples of ambitious in a Sentence

The company was created by two very ambitious young men in the early 1900s.

This 500-page book is her most ambitious effort yet.

Your plans for the future are very ambitious.

It was too ambitious a task for just one person.

Recent Examples on the Web

Saint Laurent, staged against the illuminated Eiffel Tower at night, delivered sheer theatricality, while Chanel transformed the Grand Palais into a galaxy, offering a spectacle as ambitious as the collection itself. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025

That of the vampy, endlessly ambitious, and deliciously ruthless weather presenter Suzanne Stone, who plots to knock off her husband (Matt Dillon) in Gus Van Sant’s satirical romp. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025

Hunt portrays Rachel, the free-spirited and fiercely ambitious younger daughter of Laban and sister of Leah. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025

Connectivity to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) is as ambitious as the terminal itself — but on the ground, the picture is more complicated. —Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ambicious "overweening, craving," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French ambicieus "striving for success, seeking glory," borrowed from Latin ambitiōsus "anxious to win favor, eager for advancement," from ambitiō "act of soliciting for votes, desire for advancement" + -ōsus -ous — more at ambition entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ambitious

• ambitious for

Rhymes for ambitious

• adventitious
• cementitious
• expeditious
• inauspicious
• injudicious
• meretricious
• repetitious
• superstitious
• surreptitious
• unambitious
• unpropitious
• unsuspicious

Kids Definition

ambitious

adjective

am·​bi·​tious am-ˈbish-əs 

1

: controlled by or having ambition

ambitious to be captain of the team

2

: showing ambition

an ambitious plan

ambitiously adverb