ambitious

An ambitious person isn't just hoping for success—they are actively working toward it with energy and determination. Think of a young artist spending every spare moment painting, or an entrepreneur tirelessly building their dream company. However, the word isn't limited to people; a plan or project can also be ambitious if it is grand, difficult, and demands exceptional effort to pull off. Whether describing a personality or a task, it implies having big goals. Be aware, though, that when applied to people, it can sometimes hint at a hard-edged competitiveness—a willingness to put personal advancement first.

To be ambitious means having a strong desire and determination to succeed, often involving significant effort and planning. It goes beyond simply wishing for something—an ambitious person actively pursues their goals with energy and drive.

The word carries a sense of high aspiration; someone ambitious isn't content with the status quo. They envision a better future and work hard to make it happen. Crucially, this adjective also applies to non-human subjects. An "ambitious itinerary" or an "ambitious construction project" describes something that is bold, extensive, and difficult to achieve, requiring great skill or exertion to complete.

However, "ambitious" doesn't always have purely positive connotations when describing character. It can suggest a degree of self-interest or a willingness to be competitive, even at the expense of others. A politician might be described as ambitious if they are relentlessly pursuing power, contrasting with a student who is simply striving to be top of their class.

Historically, the word comes from the Latin ambitio, meaning "a going around"—originally referring to the practice of politicians seeking votes by visiting citizens. This origin hints at the proactive, public, and sometimes calculated nature of ambition.

So, whether it's a scientist driven to make a discovery, a massive infrastructure plan that seems almost impossible, or someone simply striving to improve their life, ambition is the powerful force that fuels achievement—mixing high hopes with the hard work required to realize them.