German word

Ambition

Pronunciation

IPA/ambiˈtsi̯oːn/

Meaning

  • feminine nounambition

Example

Seine Ambitionen sind groß; er will Chef werden.

His ambitions are high; he wants to become the boss.

Illustration for Ambition (ambition)

More examples

Trotz großer Erfolge hat er keine Ambitionen auf eine Führungsposition.

Despite his great successes, he has no ambitions for a leadership position.

Core concept

A person keeps moving toward a demanding goal, with the goal itself and the inner force behind the effort both in view.

Common phrases

  • seine Ambitionen zurückstellen

    set aside his ambitions

  • politische Ambitionen

    political ambitions

Similar words

Ehrgeiz: A powerful desire to succeed or attain a high position.
Streben: Continued effort aimed at achieving a goal.
Motivation: The reason or inner drive behind a particular action.
Ziel: A concrete goal that someone wants to accomplish.

Definition in German

Wunsch oder innerer Antrieb, persönliche Ziele zu verwirklichen oder beruflich aufzusteigen.

Word origin

German Ambition is borrowed through French from Latin ambitio, originally referring to going around to seek support, and later developed the sense of aspiring to high aims.

Usage tips

  • Ambition is a feminine noun: die Ambition, with the plural die Ambitionen; the word often has a formal or written tone.

Other meanings

  • aspirationnoun
  • drivenoun

Opposites

  • Zufriedenheitsatisfactionnoun
  • Anspruchslosigkeitlack of ambitionnoun

Related words

  • ambitionslosunambitiousadjective
  • Ambitionsniveauambition levelnoun

Word lists with this word