ambience

noun

am·​bi·​ence ˈam-bē-ən(t)s How to pronounce ambience (audio)
ˈäm-bē-än(t)s
variants or ambiance
: a feeling or mood associated with a particular place, person, or thing : atmosphere
The restaurant's soft music and candlelight gave it a romantic ambience.

Examples of ambience in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Irish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist presents the originals beneath a veil of ambience and reverb, embedding a nostalgic in the fabric of her homespun renditions. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 Jan. 2025 Shaded picnic tables twinkle with Edison string lights overhead, and a huge wood-burning fireplace adds kick-back ambience. Catherine Dunwoody, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024 Ellen and Anna’s corseted gowns and bonnets add to the period ambience, as do the men’s suits and fancy waistcoats and the rustic garb of the peasantry. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Dec. 2024 The pistons, belts, and pulleys create the ambience of an engine room on a steamship, as clumps of fiber are separated and realigned into uniform fabric. Shane C Kurup, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ambience 

Word History

Etymology

in part from ambi(ent) entry 1 + -ence, in part borrowed from French ambiance (from ambiant "ambient" + -ance -ance)

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ambience was in 1648

Dictionary Entries Near ambience

Cite this Entry

“Ambience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambience. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

ambience

noun
am·​bi·​ence
: a feeling or mood that is related to a particular place, person, or thing

More from Merriam-Webster on ambience

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