am‧bi‧tion W3 / æmbɪʃ ə n / 名词

1 [可数名词] a strong desire to achieve something

an ambition to do something

She had always had an ambition to be a pilot.

sb’s ambitions of doing something

An injury ended his ambitions of becoming a professional footballer.

2 [不可数名词] determination to be successful, rich, powerful etc :

He was young and full of ambition.

3 have no ambition to do something used when saying that you definitely do not want to do something :

I have no ambition to go back there again.

COLLOCATIONS

动词

sb’s ambition is to be/do something My ambition was to be a journalist.

have an ambition He had an ambition to be a top cello player.

achieve/fulfil/realize your ambition (= do what you wanted to do ) It took her ten years to achieve her ambition. | He was prepared to go to any lengths to fulfil his ambition. | I want to thank all those who made it possible for me to realize a lifetime ’s ambition.

lack ambition/have no ambition Many of the students lack ambition.

nurse/harbour/cherish an ambition (= have it for a long time, especially secretly ) He had nursed an ambition to become a writer for many years.

frustrate/thwart sb’s ambitions formal (= prevent someone from achieving them ) The weather threatened to frustrate their ambitions. | Her lifelong ambitions had been thwarted again and again.

ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ambition

sb’s main ambition What’s your main ambition in life?

sb’s great ambition He didn’t achieve his greatest ambition – to be Wimbledon Champion.

a lifelong/long-held ambition (= one that you have had all your life ) It’s been her lifelong ambition to work with horses.

a personal ambition Crossing the Sahara was a personal ambition of mine.

a secret ambition His secret ambition was to become a pilot.

a burning/driving ambition (= a very strong ambition ) She had a burning ambition to become a racing car driver.

career ambitions The course is designed to help you achieve your career ambitions.

political/presidential ambitions His political ambitions were put on hold while he waited for a suitable opportunity.

短语

sb’s dreams and ambitions He told her all about his dreams and ambitions.

sb’s lack of ambition I was frustrated by their apparent lack of ambition.

be full of ambition She was full of ambition when she joined the company.