ambitious
/æmˈbɪʃ.əs/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: ambitiouser · ambitiousest
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Having or showing ambition; wanting a lot of power, honor, respect, superiority, or other distinction.
Adjective
Examples
an ambitious person
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Very desirous.
Adjective
Examples
30 June 2019, Sam Wallace in The Telegraph, Manchester United must shape Aaron Wan-Bissaka into a £50m all-rounder - but there is no hiding place at Old Trafford
Now he is joining a club ambitious to return to a model of dominating games and attacking opposition.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “ambitious” mean?
Having or showing ambition; wanting a lot of power, honor, respect, superiority, or other distinction.
Is “ambitious” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.