I. am-ˈbi-shən 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 -ləs 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
II. transitive verb
Date: 1664
: to have as one's ambition : desire