Ambitious means wanting to succeed. If you want to climb Mount Everest, start your own business, and write a great philosophical treatise all before you are 30, then wow, you are really ambitious.
Having an ambition is a good thing, like wanting to get good grades, or to become a doctor. But if we say someone is ambitious, often we mean they have too much ambition. An ambitious politician might want power so badly that he’ll abandon his ideals in order to win a race. If you hatch a business plan and someone tells you it’s too ambitious, that means you’re probably not being reasonable about how much you can get done.
Definitions of ambitious
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adjective
having a strong desire for success or achievement
-
synonyms:
aspirational
-
pushful, pushy
marked by aggressive ambition and energy and initiative
-
aspirant, aspiring, wishful
desiring or striving for recognition or advancement
-
compulsive, determined, driven
strongly motivated to succeed
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manque, would-be
unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition
-
overambitious
excessively ambitious
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enterprising
marked by imagination, initiative, and readiness to undertake new projects
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pushful, pushy
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adjective
requiring full use of your abilities or resources
“ambitious schedule”
-
synonyms:
challenging
-
difficult, hard
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
-
difficult, hard
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘ambitious’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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честолюбивый, претенциозный, самолюбивый, стремящийся, жаждущий
прилагательное ↓
- честолюбивый
extremely ambitious — крайне честолюбивый 
ruthlessly /mercilessly/ ambitious — не останавливающийся ни перед чем в своих честолюбивых замыслах
- стремящийся (к чему-л.); страстно добивающийся (чего-л.)
ambitious of wealth [honour] — стремящийся к богатству [к почестям]
ambitious of love — домогающийся (чьей-л.) любви
he is ambitious of /for/ power — он домогается власти /стремится к власти/; он властолюбив
ambitious to do smth. — мечтающий сделать что-л.
- трудолюбивый; активный, энергичный; инициативный
an ambitious boy — старательный юноша
the new worker is not at all ambitious — новый сотрудник какой-то вялый
- требующий огромных усилий, необычайных способностей и т. п.; грандиозный, величественный
ambitious plans — величественные замыслы, далеко идущие планы
ambitious program — обширная /грандиозная/ программа
an ambitious attempt to climb the dangerous mountain — смелая попытка покорить опасный пик
- претенциозный; изысканный, вычурный
ambitious style — вычурный стиль
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
an ambitious project to develop the city’s waterfront — амбициозный проект развития городского порта
a horizonless array of opportunities for a young, ambitious person at the new company — безграничная масса возможностей для молодого, амбициозного человека в этой новой компании
ambitious designs — честолюбивые замыслы
the ambitious nature of the programme — амбициозный характер программы
ambitious of power — властолюбивый
ambitious project — амбициозный проект
ambitious aim — честолюбивый замысел
ambitious personality — амбициозная натура
ambitious of wealth — стремящийся к богатству
ambitious goal — честолюбивая цель
ambitious draft resolution — проект резолюции, преследующий далеко идущие цели
ambitious pledge — честолюбивое обязательство; амбициозное обязательство
Примеры с переводом
An ambitious mind wants success.
Честолюбивый ум жаждет успеха.
Your plans for the future are very ambitious.
Ваши планы на будущее очень амбициозные.
He has ambitious designs for his son.
У него амбициозные планы в отношении сына.
His ambitious plan was in shreds.
Его амбициозный план был «порван» в клочья.
He’s very ambitious, and I mean that as a compliment.
Он очень честолюбив, и я говорю это, как комплимент.
This ambitious attempt ended in failure.
Это честолюбивое предприятие закончилось неудачей.
You have characterized him as an ambitious person.
Вы описали его как честолюбивого человека.
ещё 10 примеров свернуть
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
…an industrialist who remains an eidolon of the visionary and ambitious self-made man… 
…a sprawling cosmopolis where ambitious people from all over come to make their fortune…
…a big, teeming metropolis where ambitious people from all over come to make their mark…
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Возможные однокоренные слова
I hear from professional women each day that the term «ambitious» has negative connotations for them. ❋ Kathy Caprino (2011)
He has faced setbacks in what he calls an «ambitious» plan, including a management shake-up at the core French operations. ❋ Christina Passariello (2011)
NEWTON: Well, in this case, I think the Iraqis should be commended because they’ve learned one of the lessons in early tribunals was to what I call ambitious overcharging. ❋ Unknown (2005)
Links said EU negotiators made what he labelled ambitious requests in the previous round of talks with regard to areas such as cars, textiles, clothing and ceramics. ❋ Unknown (1998)
They did not like what they called my ambitious ways — and so they sent me to the Cold Country. ❋ Ray Cummings (1922)
WASHINGTON — The government is setting what it calls an ambitious goal for Alzheimer’s disease: Development of effective ways to treat and prevent the mind-destroying illness by 2025. ❋ AP (2012)
He added: The word ‘ambitious‘ is one we’re entirely familiar with. ❋ By KIRK SEMPLE (2011)
The word «ambitious» rankled some of Mr. Bloomberg’s critics, who weighed in heavily throughout the afternoon with tweeted messages and e-mails, mostly saying his proposals were retreads of old and «failing» policies. ❋ By MARY ANN GIORDANO (2012)
The word «ambitious» doesn’t even begin to describe him. ❋ The Huffington Post TV Canada (2012)
BRUSSELS Reuters — Unrest in North Africa has set back in the short term ambitious plans to develop solar energy for use locally and in Europe, but for the longer term the region’s abundant sunshine offers huge investment potential, the head of France’s Medgrid said on Thursday. ❋ Unknown (2011)
WASHINGTON — The government is setting what it calls an ambitious goal for Alzheimer’s disease: Development of effective ways to treat and prevent the mind-destroying illness by 2025. ❋ Unknown (2012)
I think ambitious is the word to describe Sarah … too bad she is ambitious way beyond her qualifications and brains. ❋ Unknown (2009)
So go ahead and keep thinking that tweaking Obama’s plan to be even more ambitious is a good plan. ❋ Unknown (2010)
Long story short, President Obama has his reasons for adopting a health care reform agenda that, while ambitious, is less ambitious than this. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Loss of IT chief is only the latest setback in ambitious scheme to computerise records ❋ Unknown (2009)
“Suspend a while your vain ambitious hopes,/Leave hunting after Bribes, forget your Tropes.” ❋ Unknown (2008)
One way that you could make the group more ambitious is to give the group an urgent reason for being. ❋ Unknown (2008)
Being ambitious is important, but using George W. Bush’s tactics can prove to be very damaging. ❋ Unknown (2008)
The Europeans would see the July summit as a success «if a long-term ambitious target could be spelled out for 2050,» Delbeke said, as quoted by Kyodo News. ❋ Unknown (2008)
She was ambitious about [becoming] [the first] [virgin] super-model. ❋ Samme A (2008)
Example:
1. [Benny] is only attracted to northamerican or french, [high fashion], blonde models. He is very ambitious.
2. «Man! Did you see that woman walk by? She has a great body. I’d totally tap that.»
-«She has an [ugly face], though.»
«So?»
» I am afraid I am too ambitous for that.» ❋ Ahksmar (2012)
I had planned to begin researching the feasibility of a hamster-powered mechanical toothbrush, but I [lacked] the ambitiative for such a [solemn] and significant [undertaking]. ❋ Brohand Manpalm Dudefinger (2006)
I had planned to begin researching the feasibility of a hamster-powered mechanical toothbrush, but I [lacked] the ambitiative for such a [solemn] and significant [undertaking]. ❋ Brohand Manpalm Dudefinger (2006)
I had planned to begin researching the feasibility of a hamster-powered mechanical toothbrush, but I [lacked] the ambitiative for such a [solemn] and significant [undertaking]. ❋ Brohand Manpalm Dudefinger (2006)
«Im so [ambitious] [right now].»
[Horny] ❋ Woodpecker. (2010)
[Khoa’s] so passive ambitious — he spends almost all his time [playing guitar] and surfing, yet he just got accepted to [Yale Law School], finished his third novel, and helped develop a new method to replicate DNA strands. ❋ Hien Ngoc Nguyen (2004)
[Lets] be ambitiously humble [bout] [makin] these calls Bro ❋ Really Really Concerned Person (2017)
[That girl] Believes in being [ambitious visionary]. ❋ Royalty Commission (2020)
I [agreed] to [Tom’s] [request], but I think he is being passive ambitious in our project. ❋ Aquadump (2008)
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
2
: resulting from, characterized by, or showing ambition
Synonyms
Example Sentences
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
But Roe, during his travels, maintained something more ambitious than a ledger.
—
Balaji Ravichandran, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2023
Niccol has announced ambitious plans to more than double its restaurant count, from around 3,100 to 7,000, opening between 250 and 300 new locations a year for the next decade-plus.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2023
The maestro had given his approval for an even more ambitious plan, but after his death, the playhouse was limited to two main-stage productions.
—Charles Mcnulty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2023
Cartier later came calling for a complicated version of the Pasha, as did many clients seeking pieces unique and ambitious commissions.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2023
Since his takeover, Musk has announced ambitious plans to remake Twitter.
—Julian Mark, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Apr. 2023
The endearing sweetness of the early Ant-Man movies has been bigfooted into a noisy smash-and- grab extravaganza that, for all its self- conscious bigness, feels smaller and less ambitious than its predecessors.
—Dallasnews.com Staff, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023
But here at the ambitious and bold new Yankee Stadium, the pageantry bordered on ostentatious.
—Vince Guerrieri, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Mar. 2023
Sony now wants half of its games to be on PC and mobile by 2025, with some ambitious plans to grow its gaming presence beyond its PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles.
—Tom Warren, The Verge, 29 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘ambitious.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of ambitious was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near ambitious
Cite this Entry
“Ambitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambitious. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on ambitious
Last Updated:
8 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
-
1
ambitious
1) честолюби́вый
2) стремя́щийся, жа́ждущий (of);
3) претенцио́зный
Англо-русский словарь Мюллера > ambitious
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2
ambitious
Персональный Сократ > ambitious
-
3
ambitious
[æmʹbıʃəs]
1. честолюбивый
ruthlessly /mercilessly/ ambitious — не останавливающийся ни перед чем в своих честолюбивых замыслах
2. стремящийся (); страстно добивающийся ()
ambitious of wealth [honour] — стремящийся к богатству [к почестям]
he is ambitious of /for/ power — он домогается власти /стремится к власти/; он властолюбив
ambitious to do smth. — мечтающий сделать что-л.
3. трудолюбивый; активный, энергичный; инициативный
4. требующий огромных усилий, необычайных способностей
; грандиозный, величественный
ambitious plans — величественные замыслы, далеко идущие планы
ambitious program — обширная /грандиозная/ программа
an ambitious attempt to climb the dangerous mountain — смелая попытка покорить опасный пик
5. претенциозный; изысканный, вычурный
НБАРС > ambitious
-
4
ambitious
[æm’bɪʃəs]
adj
амбициозный, честолюбивый, претенциозный, стремящийся к чему-либо, грандиозный
An ambitious mind wants success. — Честолюбивый ум жаждет успеха.
This ambitious attempt ended in failure. — Это претенциозное предприятие закончилось неудачей
— ambitious person
— ambitious task
— ambitious plans
— be ambitious for smth
— be ambitious for powerEnglish-Russian combinatory dictionary > ambitious
-
5
ambitious
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > ambitious
-
6
ambitious
1. a честолюбивый
2. a стремящийся; страстно добивающийся
3. a трудолюбивый; активный, энергичный; инициативный
ambitious plans — величественные замыслы, далеко идущие планы
4. a претенциозный; изысканный, вычурный
Синонимический ряд:
1. aspiring (adj.) aspiring; determined; earnest; enterprising; industrious; intent; promising; resourceful
2. challenging (adj.) arduous; challenging; difficult; formidable; rigorous; rigourous; severe
3. desirous (adj.) desirous; eager; emulous; energetic; hankering; hopeful; hungry; inspired; yearning
4. ostentatious (adj.) grandiose; lofty; magnificent; ostentatious; pretentious; showy; utopian; vaulting; visionary
Антонимический ряд:
humble; modest
English-Russian base dictionary > ambitious
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7
ambitious
[æmˈbɪʃəs]
ambitious претенциозный ambitious стремящийся, жаждущий (of); ambitious of power властолюбивый ambitious честолюбивый ambitious стремящийся, жаждущий (of); ambitious of power властолюбивый
English-Russian short dictionary > ambitious
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8
ambitious
Англо-русский синонимический словарь > ambitious
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9
ambitious
[æm’bɪʃəs]
прил.
An ambitious mind wants success. — Честолюбивый ум жаждет успеха.
2) целеустремленный; стремящийся ; жаждущий
This ambitious attempt ended in failure. — Это претенциозное предприятие закончилось неудачей.
Англо-русский современный словарь > ambitious
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10
ambitious
прил.
общ.амбициозный, честолюбивый
See:
Англо-русский экономический словарь > ambitious
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11
ambitious
English-Russian big medical dictionary > ambitious
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12
ambitious
adjective
1) честолюбивый
2) стремящийся, жаждущий (of); ambitious of power властолюбивый
3) претенциозный
Syn:
opportunist
* * *
(a) честолюбивый
* * *
1) честолюбивый 2) стремящийся, жаждущий
* * *
[am’bi·tious || -ʃəs]
честолюбивый, самолюбивый, претенциозный, жаждущий, стремящийся* * *
амбициозен
амбициозный
жаждущий
претенциозный
стремящийся
честолюбив
честолюбивый
* * *
1) честолюбивый
2) стремящийся, жаждущий (of)
3) претенциозныйНовый англо-русский словарь > ambitious
-
13
ambitious
(
ЛДП
)
1) перспективный (система, программа); многообещающий ( система); оптимистичный ( оценка)
4) сложный; замысловатый (устройство, изделие)
5) смелый (проект, попытка); дерзкий (решение, проект)
6) большой ( размеры); крупный (проект, программа); внушительный ( испытания); грандиозный (
напр.
, план)
7) серьезный (задача, проблема)
впечатляющий; далеко идущий ( программа)despite ambitious estimates вопреки радужным перспективам
English-Russian dictionary of scientific and technical difficulties vocabulary > ambitious
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14
ambitious
English-russian dctionary of diplomacy > ambitious
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15
ambitious
The Americanisms. English-Russian dictionary. > ambitious
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16
ambitious
Англо-русский технический словарь > ambitious
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17
ambitious
[æm’bɪʃəs]
1) Общая лексика: активный, амбициозный, величественный, вычурный, грандиозный, жаждущий, изысканный, инициативный, претенциозный, самолюбивый, стремящийся, трудолюбивый, честолюбивый, энергичный, страстно добивающийся , смелый (о плане), многообещающий, перспективный, далеко идущий, целеустремлённый, масштабный, большой, важный, внушительный, впечатляющий, значительный, крупный, многообещающий, оптимистичный, перспективный, серьёзный, сложный, смелый
Универсальный англо-русский словарь > ambitious
-
18
ambitious
прил.
далеко идущий
полный амбиций, амбициозный
Англо-русский универсальный дополнительный практический переводческий словарь И. Мостицкого > ambitious
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19
ambitious
[æm`bɪʃəs]
честолюбивый
стремящийся, жаждущий
претенциозный
Англо-русский большой универсальный переводческий словарь > ambitious
-
20
ambitious to do
Общая лексика: мечтающий сделать
Универсальный англо-русский словарь > ambitious to do
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См. также в других словарях:
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ambitious — 1 Ambitious, emulous both mean extremely desirous of something that will give one power, fame, success, or riches. Ambitious often implies inordinate, sometimes presumptuous, eagerness to advance oneself or to attain something beyond one’s… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
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Ambitious — Am*bi tious, a. [L. ambitiosus: cf. F. ambitieux. See {Ambition}.] 1. Possessing, or controlled by, ambition; greatly or inordinately desirous of power, honor, office, superiority, or distinction. [1913 Webster] Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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ambitious — UK US /æmˈbɪʃəs/ adjective ► having a strong wish to be successful: »an ambitious young lawyer »I make no secret of the fact that I am very ambitious. ► if a plan or idea is ambitious, it needs a lot of skill and effort to be successful or be… … Financial and business terms
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ambitious — [am bish′əs] adj. [ME ambicious < L ambitiosus, seeking favor < ambitio: see AMBITION] 1. full of or showing ambition 2. greatly desirous (of something); eager for 3. demanding great effort, skill, enterprise, etc. [an ambitious… … English World dictionary
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ambitious — [adj1] desiring success aggressive, anxious, ardent, aspiring, avid, ball of fire*, bent upon, climbing, come on, come on strong, designing, desirous, determined, driving, eager, eager beaver*, earnest, energetic, enterprising, enthusiastic,… … New thesaurus
-
ambitious — index eager, solicitous Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
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ambitious — (adj.) late 14c., from L. ambitiosus going around to canvass for office, from ambitio (see AMBITION (Cf. ambition)). Related: Ambitiously … Etymology dictionary
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ambitious — ► ADJECTIVE 1) having or showing ambition. 2) intended to meet a high standard and therefore difficult to achieve. DERIVATIVES ambitiously adverb ambitiousness noun … English terms dictionary
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ambitious — ambitiously, adv. ambitiousness, n. /am bish euhs/, adj. 1. having ambition; eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining success, power, wealth, a specific goal, etc.: ambitious students. 2. showing or caused by ambition: an ambitious attempt to… … Universalium
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ambitious — am•bi•tious [[t]æmˈbɪʃ əs[/t]] adj. 1) having ambition; eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining success, power, wealth, etc.: an ambitious student[/ex] 2) showing or caused by ambition; requiring exceptional effort, ability, etc.: an ambitious … From formal English to slang
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ambitious — am|bi|tious [æmˈbıʃəs] adj 1.) determined to be successful, rich, powerful etc ▪ Alfred was intensely ambitious, obsessed with the idea of becoming rich. ambitious for ▪ mothers who are highly ambitious for their children (=who want their… … Dictionary of contemporary English