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
• go-getting
• hard-driving
• pushing
• self-seeking

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

Another Crab's Treasure Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 Release Date: April 25, 2024 Dark Souls gameplay meets quirky indie charm in this ambitious underwater adventure. —PCMAG, 6 Apr. 2024

And an ambitious real estate developer and builder of luxury homes. —Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024

Without immediate results, ambitious legislation can be harder to market. —Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

Still, Choi’s goal is ambitious—perhaps even noble—and belies the role she was appointed to fill: that of a caretaker CEO brought on to steady a company in turmoil. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

All of that elevated energy costs, protectionism and competition on the EU agenda, making the ambitious clean shift more politically and economically challenging. —Ewa Krukowska, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024

In 2016, the Times reported that ambitious Waterstudio projects in New Jersey and Dubai were scheduled to roll out their first units within a year. —Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024

All the technical expertise needed to complete this ambitious project was there, the evaluators concluded. —Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024

City officials say the reforms aim to boost the professionalism and diversity of neighborhood groups, which have faced backlash in recent years for frequently opposing ambitious projects and policies. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024

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

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