ambitious

adjective

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

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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.
Jonah’s plan to oust Varnell involves installing an ambitious new executive producer (Wendy Raquel Robinson’s Rachel) ostensibly to help boost ratings, but in actuality to annoy Varnell into quitting over creative differences. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 The Fermi Explorer project is ambitious but achievable, according to Johnston and his colleagues. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The time difference with Spain creates an opportunity for an ambitious co-production with Televisión Española, which will produce and edit its own version of the show live from Spain while the event takes place in Marbella. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 Pendragón spent three years overseeing the restoration of a childcare center on the market's roof, part of the ambitious original 1957 design. — Michael Snyder, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 2026 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

Phrases Containing ambitious

Rhymes for ambitious

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Browse Nearby Words

ambitionless
ambitious
ambitious for
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Cite this Entry

“Ambitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambitious. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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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
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