ambition

ambition — noun

1. a particular thing that someone hopes very much to do or get one day, often afte

1.名詞B1
釋義

a particular thing that someone hopes very much to do or get one day, often after a lot of work or planning — for example, becoming a doctor, opening a small bakery, or climbing Mount Fuji.

例句

Priya's lifelong ambition is to open a small bookshop near the harbour.

ambition + to-infinitive after be-verb

Leila achieved her ambition of running the Tokyo Marathon at the age of fifty.

ambition of + V-ing for a specific goal

同義詞
  • goal

    more neutral; any target you set, big or small

  • dream

    softer and more emotional; often something hard to reach

  • aspiration

    more formal; usually long-term and admirable

文法句型

ambition + to-infinitive

ambition of + V-ing

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person or group; the goal is something specific and personal. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names a single concrete target, while sense 2 describes a general drive toward success or status.

常見錯誤

❌I have ambition to be a nurse.
✅I have an ambition to be a nurse.
💡countable here, so it needs 'an' or 'the' before the singular noun.
❌Her ambition for becoming a pilot started early.
✅Her ambition to become a pilot started early.
💡use 'to' + base verb after a singular ambition, not 'for + V-ing'.

2. the strong inner energy that pushes a person to work hard for fame, money, power

2.名詞B2
釋義

the strong inner energy that pushes a person to work hard for fame, money, power, or a high position in life.

例句

Uri's ambition pushed her from a small village school to the top law firm in Taipei.

abstract uncountable ambition as subject

The young senator was full of ambition and worked late into the night every day.

be full of + ambition collocation

同義詞
  • drive

    the energy that makes someone keep working; close synonym

  • determination

    focuses on refusing to give up rather than wanting status

  • hunger

    informal and stronger; suggests an almost greedy desire

反義詞
  • apathy

    complete lack of interest or energy

  • complacency

    being too satisfied with what you already have

文法句型

have + ambition

be full of ambition

lack + ambition

用法筆記

Treated as uncountable in this sense — never use 'an ambition' here. Often carries a slightly negative or warning tone, suggesting that the desire for power can become harmful. Distinguish from sense 1, which is a concrete personal goal.

常見錯誤

❌He has an ambition for power.
✅He has ambition.' or 'He is full of ambition.
💡when meaning the general drive, use it without 'an'.
❌She showed many ambitions in the office.
✅She showed a lot of ambition in the office.
💡uncountable, so use 'a lot of', not a plural.