ambition
/amˈbɪʃ(ə)n
/noun
1A strong desire to do or achieve something: her ambition was to become a pilot he achieved his ambition of making a fortune...
- Hughes won the affection of many viewers in the original programme when he set out his ambitions in life.
- Not so long ago he was watching telly with his eldest daughter, Lois, who has ambitions to be an actor.
- If we work together we can realise these ambitions - we can make Scotland a better place.
Synonyms
aspiration, intention, goal, aim, objective, object, purpose, intent, plan, scheme, mission, calling, vocation, desire, wish, design, target, end, dream, hope
1.1 [mass noun] Desire and determination to achieve success: young men and women with ambition...
- He's been good at everything he's turned his hand to because of his determination and ambition.
- Unlike world leaders she was not driven by raging ambition or a desire to improve society.
- Julie's success is based on driving ambition, a deprived childhood and hard graft.
Synonyms
drive, determination, desire, enterprise, initiative, eagerness, motivation, enthusiasm, zeal, commitment, a sense of purpose, longing, yearning, hankering
informal get-up-and-go
Origin
Middle English: via Old French from Latin ambitio(n-), from ambire 'go around (canvassing for votes)'.
Ambition comes from Latin ambire, literally meaning ‘to go round or go about’ (also the source of late 16th-century ambient), but with the more specific sense of ‘to go round canvassing for votes’. From this developed the idea of eagerly seeking honour or advancement.