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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
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
suffixEnglish Dictionary