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 of ambitious

• 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

This ambitious team aims to amp up its roster next year, publishing up to four titles. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

Food and drink There are four dining options on the property, starting with Studio Mediterranean, which debuted in 2025 as the resort’s newest and most ambitious restaurant to date. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026

What was once a passive escape built around spa days and quiet pools has morphed into something far more ambitious fitness assessments, sleep tracking, diagnostic panels and longevity programs promising to add years to your life. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026

Representative Ro Khanna, whose district includes Silicon Valley, is one of the few Democrats calling for the restoration of a stand-alone aid agency as part of an ambitious foreign agenda. —Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026

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