ambitious

adjective

am·​bi·​tious am-ˈbi-shəs How to pronounce ambitious (audio)
Synonyms of ambitiousnext
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
High up in the Chilean Andes, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is set to become the world's largest optical telescope and one of the most ambitious scientific instruments ever built. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025 Haiti’s new Gang Suppression Force appears poised to meet its ambitious target of 5,500 troops, after a number of nations, including Chad and Bangladesh, offered to deploy soldiers, engineers and police officers to help the country’s beleaguered security forces combat armed gangs. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025 This ambitious agenda puts the spotlight on the country’s sports diplomacy, in which athletic endeavors serve as an arena for gaining influence, cultivating international leadership, interacting with foreign audiences, and facilitating conversations that can lead to better understandings. Time, 9 Dec. 2025 Brosnan was, until a few years ago, the ambitious and opinionated coach of what is inarguably the greatest high-school cross-country team of all time at Newbury Park in California. Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 9 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ambitious

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ambitious was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Ambitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambitious. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

ambitious

adjective
am·​bi·​tious am-ˈbish-əs How to pronounce ambitious (audio)
1
: controlled by or having ambition
ambitious to be captain of the team
2
: showing ambition
an ambitious plan
ambitiously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on ambitious

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