ambitious definition | Dictionary.com

am⋅bi⋅tious

[am-bish-uh

–adjective

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 break the record.

3.	strongly desirous; eager: ambitious of love and approval.

4.	requiring exceptional effort, ability, etc.: an ambitious program for eliminating all slums.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L ambitiōsus, equiv. to ambiti(ō) ambition + -ōsus -ous

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : ambitious

Spanish:

ambicioso,

German:

ehrgeizig,

Japanese:

野心的な

View 30 other languages »

am·bi·tious (ām-bĭsh'əs) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Full of, characterized by, or motivated by ambition.
Greatly desirous; eager: "I am not ambitious of ridicule" (Edmund Burke).
Requiring or showing much effort; challenging: an ambitious schedule.

am·bi'tious·ly adv., am·bi'tious·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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ambitious
adjective
1.	having a strong desire for success or achievement [ant: ambitionless]
2.	requiring full use of your abilities or resources; "ambitious schedule"; "performed the most challenging task without a mistake"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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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.

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man. --Shak.

2. Strongly desirous; -- followed by of or the infinitive; as, ambitious to be or to do something.

I was not ambitious of seeing this ceremony. --Evelyn.

Studious of song, and yet ambitious not to sing in vain. --Cowper.

3. Springing from, characterized by, or indicating, ambition; showy; aspiring; as, an ambitious style.

A giant statue . . . Pushed by a wild and artless race, From off wide, ambitious base. --Collins.

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