Ambition
Ambition is the desire for personal achievement. Ambitious persons seek to be the best at what they choose to do for attainment, power, or superiority. Ambition is also the object of this desire. A poor example of 'Ambition' could be 'to become a Confetti collector'.
Etymology
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin ambition-, ambitio, literally, act of soliciting for votes, from ambire
- Date: 14th century
Definitions
1 a : an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power b : desire to achieve a particular end 2 : the object of ambition <her ambition is to start her own business> 3 : a desire for activity or exertion <felt sick and had no ambition>
Synonyms
synonyms ambition, aspiration, pretension mean strong desire for advancement. ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire <driven by ambition>. pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption <has literary pretensions>.
Compare
Aspiration as it implies a striving after something higher than oneself and usually implies that the striver is thereby ennobled <an aspiration to become president someday>.
