ambition

Meanings

Noun

• Eager or inordinate desire for some object that confers distinction, as preferment, honor, superiority, political power, or fame; desire to distinguish one's self from other people.
• An object of an ardent desire.
• A desire, as in (sense 1), for another person to achieve these things.
• A personal quality similar to motivation, not necessarily tied to a single goal.
• The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing.

Verb

• To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet.

Origin

• From Middle English ambicioun, from Old French ambition, from Latin ambitiō ("ambition, a striving for favor, literally 'a going around', especially of candidates for office in Rome soliciting votes"), from ambiō. See ambient, issue.