ambitious

adjective

am·​bi·​tious am-ˈbi-shəs 

1

a

: having or controlled by ambition : having a desire to be successful, powerful, or famous

an ambitious young executive

b

: having a desire to achieve a particular goal : aspiring

ambitious for power

2

: resulting from, characterized by, or showing ambition

an ambitious film

ambitiously adverb

ambitiousness noun

Synonyms

• aspiring
• go-getting
• hard-driving
• pushing
• self-seeking

Examples of ambitious in a Sentence

The company was created by two very ambitious young men in the early 1900s.

This 500-page book is her most ambitious effort yet.

Your plans for the future are very ambitious.

It was too ambitious a task for just one person.

Recent Examples on the Web

Musical series are rare in Spain, especially with such an ambitious format. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025

Faced with Nantucket’s strict building codes and an ambitious client wish list—including a car showroom, spa, gym, and indoor basketball court—the team at AD PRO Directory firm Workshop/APD recognized an opportunity to create something extraordinary. —Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2025

Guatemala City's acclaimed Sublime Restaurant represents Central America, where chef Sergio Diaz creates an ambitious tasting menu that tells the story of the country’s culinary heritage and Mayan roots. —Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2025

At the same time, NASA's Artemis program—its ambitious effort to return humans to the Moon—faces potential funding shifts that could align with Musk's long-standing goal of Mars colonization. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ambicious "overweening, craving," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French ambicieus "striving for success, seeking glory," borrowed from Latin ambitiōsus "anxious to win favor, eager for advancement," from ambitiō "act of soliciting for votes, desire for advancement" + -ōsus -ous — more at ambition entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ambitious

• ambitious for

Rhymes for ambitious

• adventitious
• cementitious
• expeditious
• inauspicious
• injudicious
• meretricious
• repetitious
• superstitious
• surreptitious
• unambitious
• unpropitious
• unsuspicious

Kids Definition

ambitious

adjective

am·​bi·​tious am-ˈbish-əs 

1

: controlled by or having ambition

ambitious to be captain of the team

2

: showing ambition

an ambitious plan

ambitiously adverb