- ambitious
- ambitious (adj.) late 14c., from L. ambitiosus "going around to canvass for office," from ambitio (see AMBITION (Cf. ambition)). Related: Ambitiously.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
ambitious
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
