n.
Pronunciation: am- ' bi-sh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin ambition-, ambitio, literally, act of soliciting for votes, from ambire
Date: 14th century
1 a : an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power b : desire to achieve a particular end
2 : the object of ambition <her ambition is to start her own business>
3 : a desire for activity or exertion <felt sick and had no ambition >
– am · bi · tion · less \ -l ə s \ adjective
synonyms AMBITION , ASPIRATION , PRETENSION mean strong desire for advancement. AMBITION applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire <driven by ambition >. ASPIRATION implies a striving after something higher than oneself and usually implies that the striver is thereby ennobled <an aspiration to become president someday>. PRETENSION suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption <has literary pretensions >.