Comprehensive
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
       

am·bi·tious

ambitious

 
 
pronunciation:
aem bI shs
features:
Word Combinations (adjective), Word History, Word Parts
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: having or showing ambition.
They're all ambitious people trying to get to the top.After acquiring his first ship, he had ambitious dreams of acquiring a whole fleet.
 
synonyms:
aspiring, determined, enterprising, zealous
antonyms:
lazy
similar words:
climbing, competitive, designing, desirous, driving, eager, hungry, intent, itching, pushy, resolved, scheming, wishful
definition 2: requiring great effort in order to be realized.
She's opted for an ambitious program of study.
 
synonyms:
arduous, difficult
antonyms:
easy, effortless, undemanding
similar words:
audacious, bold, brave, daring, energetic, lofty, vigorous
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivation: ambitiously (adv.)
Word History
The word ambitious is from a Latin word that means "to go about" or "walk around." In Roman times, this Latin word, ambitio, came to have a special meaning. It was used for a man who went around town for a particular reason: to persuade people to vote for him. Today, we would still say that someone who enters an election is ambitious, but the English word now has a wider meaning.
Word PartsSubscriber feature About this feature