Meaning of “Ambition”
Ambition is a strong desire to achieve success, power, or a specific goal, often involving determination and drive. It can refer to the goal itself or the quality of being ambitious. Note: The form “an-ambition” likely emphasizes the indefinite article “an” used before vowel sounds, as in “an ambition,” but the core word is “ambition.”
Pronunciation and Stress
The word is pronounced in IPA as /æmˈbɪʃ.ən/. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: am-BISH-un. To practice, break it down: “am” like in “ham,” “bition” like “bishop” without the ‘p’ sound at the end.
Morphology
“Ambition” derives from Latin ambitio, meaning “a going around,” from ambire (“to go around” or “to canvass for votes”). The prefix “amb-” relates to “around,” and “-ition” forms nouns indicating action or state. In English, it entered via Old French in the 14th century, evolving from political canvassing to general aspiration.
Grammar Notes
“Ambition” is primarily a countable noun (e.g., “an ambition”) but can be uncountable (e.g., “full of ambition”). It functions as a subject, object, or complement. No irregular forms; plural is “ambitions.” Use “an” before it due to the vowel sound in “ambition.”
Short Interesting Facts
Originally, “ambition” had a negative connotation in English, implying excessive desire for power, as in Shakespeare’s works where ambitious characters like Macbeth meet tragic ends. Today, it’s mostly positive, symbolizing motivation. The word shares roots with “ambassador,” from the same Latin base of “going around.”
Tips on How to Learn It Easier
Associate “ambition” with “aim” or “mission” – think of it as a personal mission to aim high. Visualize a ladder: climbing it represents ambitious goals. Practice by journaling daily ambitions to reinforce usage. Mnemonics: “Ambitious ants build impressive nests” to remember the drive.
Cultural or Contextual Features
In Western culture, especially the American Dream, ambition is celebrated as a path to success, seen in stories like Horatio Alger’s rags-to-riches tales. In contrast, some Eastern philosophies, like Taoism, warn against over-ambition as disrupting harmony. Modern contexts include career ambition in self-help books or political ambition in elections.
Examples in Sentences
- Simple: She has great ambition.
- Medium: His ambition to start a business kept him working late nights.
- Complex: Although her family discouraged such lofty dreams, her unyielding ambition to become an astronaut led her to pursue advanced studies in engineering and apply to NASA.
Synonyms, Antonyms, and Common Word Combinations
Synonyms: Aspiration, drive, goal, zeal.
Antonyms: Apathy, laziness, contentment, indolence.
Common Combinations: Burning ambition (intense desire), wild ambition (unrealistic), political ambition, career ambition, thwarted ambition (blocked goals).
Mini-Tasks for Practice
- Make a sentence: Write one using “ambition” to describe your own goal.
- Find a synonym: List two synonyms and use one in a sentence.
- Explore context: Read a short biography of a famous ambitious person (e.g., Elon Musk) and note how ambition appears.
- Quiz yourself: What’s the opposite of ambition? Explain why someone might lack it.