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

The depth of its riches are laid out in an ambitious recent series of culinary guidebooks by a group called Colima Sabe. — Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District appointed Lora Anguay, who has spent the past five years guiding the utility’s ambitious zero-carbon effort, to become the agency’s next chief executive officer. — Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026

Mirizzi adds that ambitious public procurement objectives and financial incentives would be helpful to build value chains and the market. — Amy Gunia, CNN Money, 24 June 2026

This is a bit ambitious for my taste, but Johnson drew rave reviews behind the scenes and publicly from May all season for his incredible work ethic, competitiveness and approach … and his stock had risen throughout the predraft process. — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 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