Reading Theme:
Ambitious: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：having high aspirations (ambitious)
ambitious
/æmˈbɪʃəs/
adj.
A person who really wants to achieve big things and is willing to work hard for them.
having high aspirations
➕
/ˈhævɪŋ haɪ ˌæspəˈreɪʃənz/
adj.
Used to describe a person who has a strong desire and determination to achieve significant success, power, or fame, often through hard work and effort.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'ambitiosus' (eager for power), from 'ambitio' (a going around, candidacy) and 'ambire' (to go around).
💡 Mnemonic
AMBITIOUS sounds like 'I'M BUSY' because an ambitious person is always busy working hard towards their big goals.
📖 Example
Ever since she was a child, Lily has been ambitious, dreaming of becoming a top surgeon and saving lives.
From a very young age, Lily has been a person with high aspirations, envisioning a future as a leading surgeon dedicated to saving lives.
🔗 Collocations
ambitious young professional – a driven and aspiring early-career worker
ambitious target – a challenging and demanding goal
ambitious for someone – having high hopes or expectations for another person
🔄 Synonyms
aspiring (adj.) – directing one's hopes or ambitions towards achieving something
driven (adj.) – relentlessly compelled by the need to accomplish something
go-getting (adj.) – energetic and eager to succeed, especially financially or in business
🚫 Antonyms
unambitious (adj.) – lacking in ambition or desire for achievement
apathetic (adj.) – showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern
contented (adj.) – happy and satisfied with what one has
🌱 Derivatives
ambition (n.) – a strong desire to do or achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work
ambitiously (adv.) – in a manner showing a strong desire for success or achievement
📖 Cultural Story
The word originates from ancient Roman political campaigns, where candidates would literally 'go around' (ambire) seeking votes and support. This act of energetically canvassing for a position evolved into the modern sense of striving for power, success, or distinction.
Meaning 2：aiming for grand goals (ambitious)
ambitious
/æmˈbɪʃəs/
adj.
Describing a plan or idea that has a very big and challenging goal.
aiming for grand goals
➕
/ˈeɪmɪŋ fɔːr ɡrænd ɡoʊlz/
adj.
Used to describe a task, plan, or goal that is challenging, requires significant effort to achieve, and aims for a substantial result.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The new eco-friendly company has an ambitious plan to clean up ocean plastic within a decade.
The new environmentally conscious firm has set a grand and challenging goal to remove plastic waste from the oceans in ten years.
🔗 Collocations
ambitious project – a large-scale and demanding undertaking
ambitious goal – an objective that is difficult to attain due to its scale or complexity
overly ambitious – unrealistically or excessively challenging
🔄 Synonyms
challenging (adj.) – testing one's abilities; demanding
audacious (adj.) – showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks
grandiose (adj.) – impressive or magnificent in appearance or style, often to an exaggerated degree
🚫 Antonyms
modest (adj.) – relatively small in scale, amount, or ambition
unassuming (adj.) – not pretentious or arrogant; modest
realistic (adj.) – having a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected
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