ambitious

/ˈæmbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement

She is ambitious and works hard to reach her goals.

She has a strong desire to succeed and puts in a lot of effort to achieve her objectives.


formal

Having a strong desire and determination to succeed and achieve goals

The ambitious entrepreneur launched three startups before turning 30.

The determined entrepreneur, driven by a strong desire to succeed, started three businesses before reaching 30.

Often used to describe people who are driven and goal-oriented.

Collocations

ambitious goalschallenging objectivesambitious projecta large, complex undertakingambitious plana detailed and far-reaching strategy

Related Phrases

ambitious plansphrase
detailed and far-reaching strategies
ambitious goalsphrase
challenging objectives

Pro Tip

Positive vs. Negative Connotation

While 'ambitious' often describes drive and determination, it can sometimes imply arrogance or overconfidence. Context matters.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

Use 'ambitious' to describe someone who is driven and goal-oriented, but be aware of potential negative connotations in certain contexts.

Word Origin

From Latin 'ambitiosus', meaning 'going around' or 'seeking office', from 'ambire' (to go around) + '-osus' (full of).

Usage Notes

Can be used positively to describe drive and determination, but may sometimes imply excessive ambition or arrogance.

Word Breakdown

ambi-
around
prefix
+
-tiosus
full of
suffix
English Dictionary