ambitious

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Related terms 1.3.4 Translations 1.3.5 References

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English ambitious < Old French *ambitios < Latin ambitiosus < ambitio; see ambition. Compare with French ambitieux.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (WEAE) IPA: /æmˈbɪʃ.əs/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

ambitious (comparative more ambitious, superlative most ambitious)

1. Possessing, or controlled by, ambition; greatly or inordinately desirous of power, honor, office, superiority, or distinction.
   • 1891, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Man with the Twisted Lip,"

     As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the country, and eventually married, without anyone having a suspicion as to my real occupation.

2. Strongly desirous—followed by "of" or the infinitive; as, ambitious to be or to do something.
3. Springing from, characterized by, or indicating, ambition; showy; aspiring.

   an ambitious style

[edit] Usage notes

• Said of people, projects, plans, goals, etc.

[edit] Derived terms

• ambitiously
• ambitiousness
• overambitious

[edit] Related terms

• ambition

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• “ambitious” in An American Dictionary of the English Language, by Noah Webster, 1828.
• ambitious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• “ambitious” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
• "ambitious" in Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2007 Microsoft Corporation.
• "ambitious" in the Wordsmyth Dictionary-Thesaurus © Wordsmyth 2002.
• "ambitious" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press 2007.
• "ambitious" in Compact Oxford English Dictionary, © Oxford University Press, 2007.