26984 words

ambition

5 definitions • 16 examples
1
a strong wish to achieve something:

Examples:

achieve an ambition He has already achieved his main ambition in life - to become wealthy.
burning ambition I've always had a burning (= very great) ambition to be a film director.
fulfil your ambition She doubts whether she'll ever be able to fulfil her ambition.
political ambitions He insisted that he had no political ambitions (= did not want to run for or hold a political office).
[ + to infinitive ] His ambition is ultimately to run his own business.
After his heart attack, he abandoned his ambition to become prime minister.
2
a strong wish to be successful, powerful, rich, etc.:

Examples:

She has a lot of ambition.
3

Examples:

[ C ] His presidential ambitions were frustrated in the 1980s.
[ U ] No one ever accused him of lacking ambition.
4
a strong wish to achieve a particular thing:

Examples:

ambition to do sth After his heart attack, he abandoned his ambition to become CEO.
achieve/fulfil/realize your ambition He has already achieved his main ambition in life - to become rich.
ultimate/long-term ambition Her ultimate ambition is to run her own business.
5
a strong wish to be successful:

Examples:

She's got a lot of ambition.
I felt he lacked the ambition to succeed in showbusiness.

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